John Francis Pratt, retired Commander of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, died in Seattle, Washington, at 11 o'clock on the night of December 5. He was born on June 18, 1848.

Receiving his early education in Vermont public schools, he attended Kimball Union Academy and Dartmouth College, graduating from the latter with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1871 and immediately entering the service of the survey as assistant in field work, first in the Eastern and Southern States and later in the western part of the United States.

From 1884 to 1895 he was in charge of parties engaged in triangulation, topography, hydrography, and astronomical and magnetic observations in the Eastern and Western States and along the Alaskan boundary. In 1896 he was transferred to the Washington staff as Chief of the Instrument Division and 2 years later put in command of the PATTERSON, engaging in hydrographic and magnetic work in California, Alaska, and the Hawaiian Islands. He was given command of the PATHFINDER in 1908, engaged in work in the Philippines. He also commanded the Brigantine GALLILEE in 1905 while engaged in the first magnetic cruise of the Pacific, under the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Commander Pratt was in charge of the Seattle field station from 1912 until his retirement on June 30, 1920.

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C&GS BULLETIN, No.176, 1/31/1930