Zephaniah Platt

For the American lawyer (1796–1871), see Zephaniah Platt (Michigan Attorney General).

Zephaniah Platt

Member of the New York Provincial Congress
In office 1775–1777
Member of the Committee of Safety
In office 1777–1777
New York State Senator
In office 1777–1783
Member of the Congress of the Confederation
In office 1785–1786
Personal details
Born	1735 Huntington, New York
Died	1807 (72 years old)
Residence	Plattsburgh, New York
Occupation	lawyer

Zephaniah Platt (May 27, 1735 – September 12, 1807) was an American politician and lawyer, and founder of the U.S. town of Plattsburgh, New York.

Platt was born in Huntington, New York, and received an English education. He was a direct descendant of Richard Platt (1603–1684), who was born in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, and settled in the Connecticut Colony.

Legal and political career

Zephaniah Platt practiced law in Poughkeepsie, New York, and was a member of the New York Provincial Congress (1775–1777), Committee of Safety (1777), State Senate (1777–1783), Congress of the Confederation (1785 and 1786), Council of Appointment (1778 and 1781). He was a Dutchess County judge from 1781 to 1795 and delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention in 1788.

He founded the town of Plattsburgh, New York, in 1788 and moved there in 1798 to continue practicing law. He was an originator of the Erie Canal, and was a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1791 until his death, in Plattsburgh, in 1807.

Platt was married twice, first to Mary Hannah Davis in 1756 and had two children:

In 1761 he married Mary Van Wyck Platt (1742–1809) and had 12 children including:

Jonas Platt (1769–1834) was a U.S. Representative for the 9th Congressional District of New York (1799–1801), lawyer and associate justice of the New York State Supreme Court
Charles Z. Platt (1773–1822) was a New York State Assemblyman for Oneida County (1807–1813) and New York State Treasurer (1813–1817)

Platt's grandson (son of Jonas Platt) Zephaniah Platt was Michigan Attorney General.

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