Governor of Oregon Territory. An attorney, he was an active Democrat, as indicated by his membership on a Philadelphia committee that planned memorial services for Andrew Jackson. In the 1830s he was a Special Agent for the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, and witnessed an 1833 treaty with the Ottawa tribe. In 1835 Pritchette was named Secretary of Michigan Territory, and served until 1838, afterwards practicing law with Governor Stevens T. Mason. In 1849 he was named Secretary of Oregon Territory, and served as Governor ex officio after Joseph Lane resigned. In 1850 he was defense counsel for five Cayuse Indians accused of murder in the Whitman Massacre. In the late 1850s and 1860s Pritchette was a Bureau of Indian Affairs Agent to the Sioux in Minnesota, and in the mid 1860s he was appointed US Consul in Fiji. Pritchette died on the English brig Rona while en route from Huahine, French Polynesia to San Francisco. The Rona sank on May 2, 1869, and passengers and crew were rescued after twelve days in open boats, but baggage and personal effects, including Pritchette's, were lost. Searches by Michigan and Oregon archivists have not located a photo or painting, though a contemporary description says Pritchette wore gold-rimmed glasses, was five feet eleven, thin, well-dressed, and clean-shaven. His name sometimes appears in records as Pritchett or Prichette, but when he signed it he used Pritchette.
Governor of Oregon Territory. An attorney, he was an active Democrat, as indicated by his membership on a Philadelphia committee that planned memorial services for Andrew Jackson. In the 1830s he was a Special Agent for the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, and witnessed an 1833 treaty with the Ottawa tribe. In 1835 Pritchette was named Secretary of Michigan Territory, and served until 1838, afterwards practicing law with Governor Stevens T. Mason. In 1849 he was named Secretary of Oregon Territory, and served as Governor ex officio after Joseph Lane resigned. In 1850 he was defense counsel for five Cayuse Indians accused of murder in the Whitman Massacre. In the late 1850s and 1860s Pritchette was a Bureau of Indian Affairs Agent to the Sioux in Minnesota, and in the mid 1860s he was appointed US Consul in Fiji. Pritchette died on the English brig Rona while en route from Huahine, French Polynesia to San Francisco. The Rona sank on May 2, 1869, and passengers and crew were rescued after twelve days in open boats, but baggage and personal effects, including Pritchette's, were lost. Searches by Michigan and Oregon archivists have not located a photo or painting, though a contemporary description says Pritchette wore gold-rimmed glasses, was five feet eleven, thin, well-dressed, and clean-shaven. His name sometimes appears in records as Pritchett or Prichette, but when he signed it he used Pritchette.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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