Zephaniah Platt
Zephaniah Platt ( born May 27, 1735 in Huntington, New York, † September 12, 1807 in Plattsburgh, New York) was an American lawyer and politician.
Private life
Zephaniah Platt was in Poughkeepsie (New York) worked as a lawyer. Then he held from 1781 to 1795 the post of judge in Dutchess County. During this time he founded in 1788 the city Plattsburgh, where he moved in 1798. In addition, he is regarded as the forefather of the Erie Canal. In addition, he had from 1791 until his death in 1807 the post of regent of the State University of New York held.
Political action
Platt was 1775-1777 Member of the Provincial Congress of New York and last year a member of the Committee of Safety. He was also from 1777 to 1783 a member of the Senate from New York. Then he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1785 and 1786. During this time he was in 1778 and in 1781 a member of the Council of Appointments. Later he took part in the Constitutional Convention of New York, 1788.
Family
Zephaniah Platt is a direct descendant of Richard Platt (1604-1684), who was born in Ware, Hertfordshire (England) and later settled in the Colony of Connecticut. Zephaniah had two sons: Jonas Platt (1769-1834) was a U.S. Rep. and Charles Z. Platt ( * 1773) was Minister of Finance of New York. His grandson Zephaniah Platt (1796-1871) was for many years the Attorney General in Michigan and after the American Civil War, a district judge in South Carolina.