Robert John Pratt
{{Short description|Canadian politician (1907–2003)}}
{{Other people|John Pratt}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Robert John Pratt
| honorific-suffix =
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| constituency_MP = Jacques-Cartier—Lasalle
| parliament = Canadian
| predecessor = Edgar Leduc
| successor = Raymond Rock
| term_start = 1957
| term_end = 1962
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1907|02|28}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|04|06|1907|02|28}}
| death_place =
| nationality =
| spouse = Dorothy Ward
m. 19 August 1935{{cite book | title=Canadian Parliamentary Guide | year=1960 | first=Pierre G. | last=Normandin }}
| party = Progressive Conservative
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Robert John Pratt (28 February 1907 – 6 April 2003){{cite news | title=John Pratt: Star of wartime hit Meet the Navy | work=The Globe and Mail | first=M. J. | last=Stone| date=5 May 2003 | page=R7}} was an architect, comedian, and politician in Canada.
Pratt was 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 and became a practicing architect. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Hussars during World War II rising to the rank of major. In 1942, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy so he could be a part of the Royal Canadian Navy musical revue Meet the Navy and sung the song "You'll Get Used to It" (which he rewrote some of the lyrics). Pratt also performed for the 1946 film version Meet the Navy (film).
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 House of Commons of Canada 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.
References
External links
- {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=16078}}
- [http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002327 Meet the Navy] at The Canadian Encyclopedia
- {{IMDb title|qid=Q6807853|id=tt0177920|title=Meet the Navy}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2pFecD3Ug8 sings his song towards the end of the film]
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Category:Canadian military personnel of World War II
Category:Canadian male stage actors
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:British emigrants to Canada
Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Quebec
Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs
Category:Architects from London
Category:McGill School of Architecture alumni
Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada