Background
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.
judge lawyer politician member of the New York State Senate
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.
Studied law.
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:
Zephaniah Platt 1756–1830
Hannah (Comstock) Platt (born March 26, 1758)
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.
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).