CAMDEN, JOHN JEFFREYS PRATT, 2ND EARL and 1ST MARQUESS (1759-1840), only
son of the 1st earl, was born on the 11th of February 1750, and was
educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1780 he was chosen member of
parliament for Bath, and he obtained the lucrative position of teller of
the exchequer, an office which he kept until his death, although after
1812 he refused to receive the large income arising from it. In the
ministry of William Pitt, Pratt was successively a lord of the admiralty
and a lord of the treasury; then, having succeeded his father in the
earldom in 1794, he was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland in 1795.
Disliked in Ireland as an opponent of Roman Catholic emancipation and as
the exponent of an unpopular policy, Camden's term of office was one of
commotion and alarm, culminating in the rebellion of 1798. Immediately
after the suppression of the rising he resigned, and in 1804 became
secretary for war and the colonies under Pitt, and in 1805 lord
president of the council. He was again lord president from 1807 to 1812,
after which date he remained for some time in the cabinet without
office. In 1812 he was created earl of Brecknock and Marquess Camden. He
died on the 8th of October 1840, and was succeeded by his only son,
George Charles, 2nd marquess (1799-1866). The present marquess is his
descendant. Camden was chancellor of the university of Cambridge and a
knight of the Garter.

CAMDEN, WILLIAM (1551-1623), English antiquary and historian, was born
in London on the 2nd of May 1551. His father, Sampson Camden, a native
of Lichfield, had settled in London, and, as a painter, had become a
member of the company of painter-stainers. His mother, Elizabeth,
belonged to the old Cumberland family of Curwen. Young Camden received
his early education at Christ's Hospital and St Paul's school, and in
1566 went to Magdalen College, Oxford, probably as a servitor or
chorister. Failing to obtain a demyship at Magdalen he removed to
Broadgates Hall, afterwards Pembroke College, and later to Christ
Church, where he was supported by his friend, Dr Thomas Thornton, canon
of Christ Church. As a defender of the established religion he was soon
engaged in controversy, and his failure to secure a fellowship at All
Souls' College is attributed to the hostility of the Roman Catholics. In
1570 he supplicated in vain for the degree of B.A., and although a
renewed application was granted in 1573 it is doubtful