Enoch Pratt | |
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Born | |
Died | September 17, 1896 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 88)
Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery, Greenmount and East North Avenues, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Business magnate, Philanthropist |
Spouse | Maria Louisa Hyde |
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Enoch Pratt (September 10, 1808 – September 17, 1896) was an American businessman in Baltimore, Maryland. Pratt was also a committed active Unitarian, and a philanthropist. He is best known for his donations to establish the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore and expanding the former Sheppard Asylum to become The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, (now known as the Sheppard-Pratt Hospital for mental health and psychiatric research), located north of the city in western Towson, county seat of Baltimore County. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he moved south to the Chesapeake Bay area and became devoted to the civic interests of the city of Baltimore. He earned his fortune as an owner of business interests beginning in the 1830s originally as a hardware wholesaler, and later expanding into railroads, banking and finance, iron works, and steamship lines and other transportation companies.