[pres-kuh
t, -kot] 
| 1. | Samuel, 1751–77, U.S. patriot during the American Revolution: rode with Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn Colonists that British troops were marching from Boston, April 18, 1775. |
| 2. | William, 1726–95, American Revolutionary military leader. |
| 3. | William Hick⋅ling [hik-ling] , 1796–1859, U.S. historian (grandson of William Prescott). |
| 4. | a city in central Arizona. 20,055. |
| Pres·cott (prěs'kət, -kŏt') A city of central Arizona north-northwest of Phoenix. It was territorial capital from 1864 to 1867 and from 1877 to 1889 and is now a trade center and health resort. Population: 41,500. |
| Pres·cott (prěs'kət, -kŏt') American Revolutionary patriot who on April 18, 1775, joined Paul Revere and William Dawes on their ride to spread the news of the British advance on Concord, Massachusetts. Because Revere was captured and Dawes was forced to retreat, only Prescott could warn the militias of Lincoln and Concord. |
| Prescott, William Hickling 1796-1859. American historian noted for his lively studies of the conquistadors, including History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843). |
Prescott
city, seat (1864) of Yavapai county, west-central Arizona, U.S. It is situated in a mile-high basin among pine-dotted mountains, in an area that is rich in minerals. Gold mining brought the first settlers to the site (1863); farmers and cattlemen followed. Fort Whipple was built and the town was founded in 1864. The secretary of Arizona Territory, Richard McCormick, urged that it be named for the historianWilliam H. Prescott, whose books on the conquest of Mexico and Peru McCormick admired. The town was the capital of Arizona Territory until 1889 (except for the years 1867-77, when the capital was moved to Tucson). A basic cattle-farming and mining economy prevails in the neighbouring countryside, while the city is a trade centre. Prescott is headquarters of the Prescott National Forest and has resort facilities. The city is home to Prescott College (1966), a four-year liberal arts college, and Yavapai (community) College (1966). Inc. 1883. Pop. (2000) 33,938; (2006 est.) 41,528.
Learn more about Prescott with a free trial on Britannica.com.