Thomas Simson Pratt

Who was Thomas Simson Pratt?

Sir Thomas Simson Pratt was a British Army general. He served in the First Anglo-Chinese War, in India from 1843 to 1855 where he was deputy adjutant-general at Madras, and was Commander of the British Forces in Australia from 1856 to 1861. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General on 31 May 1865, and to full general eight years later.

He was Commander of the British Forces in New Zealand from 1860 to 1861, and was on the Executive Council. He commanded during the First Taranaki War, but as he realised the doubtful validity of the Waitara Purchase, he disagreed with Governor Gore Browne, and his military action was ridiculed by the local settlers. He was created K.C.B. for his services in New Zealand by the British Government.

He returned to Australia as Commander of the British Forces in Victoria, and in 1862 was appointed Colonel of the 37th Regiment of Foot, which he held until he retired in 1877. He died in England from a stroke during a fellow Army General, Sam Campbell's birthday party.