Robert John Pratt
Encyclopedia
Robert John Pratt was a Canadian
architect, comedian, and politician.
Born in London
, England
, his Irish mother lived in London
and his father lived in Montreal
. In 1933, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from McGill University
. A practicing architect, Pratt enlisted with the Royal Canadian Hussars
during World War II
rising to the rank of major. In 1942, he joined the Canadian Navy so he could be a part of the Royal Canadian Navy musical revue. He performed as part of the show Meet the Navy and sung the song "You'll Get Used to It" (which he wrote the lyrics for). Pratt also performed for the 1946 film version as well.
After the war, Pratt made a series of humorous short how-to films. In 1948, he performed in a musical version of The Drunkard
which he took on tour. During the Korean War, he entertained the soldiers and later hosted a television program called This Is French. During Expo 67
he produced the World Festival of Performing Arts.
In 1953, he was elected as an alderman in the city of Dorval, Quebec
. From 1955 to 1964, he was mayor of Dorval. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1957 federal election
in the riding Jacques-Cartier—Lasalle
. A Progressive Conservative
, he was re-elected in the 1958 election
. He was defeated in 1962
and again in 1963
, 1968
, and 1974
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
architect, comedian, and politician.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, his Irish mother lived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and his father lived in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. In 1933, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. A practicing architect, Pratt enlisted with the Royal Canadian Hussars
The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
The Royal Canadian Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. The unit is based in Montreal.-Lineage:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
rising to the rank of major. In 1942, he joined the Canadian Navy so he could be a part of the Royal Canadian Navy musical revue. He performed as part of the show Meet the Navy and sung the song "You'll Get Used to It" (which he wrote the lyrics for). Pratt also performed for the 1946 film version as well.
After the war, Pratt made a series of humorous short how-to films. In 1948, he performed in a musical version of The Drunkard
The Drunkard
The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved is an American temperance play first performed in 1844. A drama in five acts, it was perhaps the most popular play produced in the United States before the dramatization of Uncle Tom's Cabin in the 1850s. In New York City, P.T. Barnum presented it at his...
which he took on tour. During the Korean War, he entertained the soldiers and later hosted a television program called This Is French. During Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
he produced the World Festival of Performing Arts.
In 1953, he was elected as an alderman in the city of Dorval, Quebec
Dorval, Quebec
Dorval is a city on the island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2006 Canadian Census, the population increased by 2.2% to 18,088. Although the city has the largest surface area in the West Island, it is among the least densely populated...
. From 1955 to 1964, he was mayor of Dorval. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1957 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1957
The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party , led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the...
in the riding Jacques-Cartier—Lasalle
Jacques-Cartier—Lasalle
Jacques-Cartier—Lasalle was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1968.This riding was created in 1952 from parts of Jacques Cartier and Verdun—La Salle ridings...
. A Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
, he was re-elected in the 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
. He was defeated in 1962
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
and again in 1963
Canadian federal election, 1963
The Canadian federal election of 1963 was held on April 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 26th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of the minority Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Overview:During the Tories' last year in...
, 1968
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
, and 1974
Canadian federal election, 1974
The Canadian federal election of 1974 was held on July 8, 1974 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 30th Parliament of Canada. The governing Liberal Party won its first majority government since 1968, and gave Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau his third term...
.
External links
- Meet the Navy at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...