James Henry Platt Jr. (July 13, 1837 – August 13, 1894) was an American physician, politician and businessman. After participating in the

Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 The Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868, was an assembly of delegates elected by the voters to establish the fundamental law of Virginia following the American Civil War and the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution. The Convention, w ...

, Platt represented

Virginia's 2nd congressional district Virginia's second congressional district is a List of United States congressional districts, U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It currently encompasses all of the counties of Accomack County, Virginia, Accomack, Nort ...

in the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

for two terms, from 1870 to 1875.

Early and family life

Born in either

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

or across the border in

Saint John, New Brunswick Saint John () is a port#seaport, seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is Canada's oldest Municipal corporation, incorporated city, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign ...

, Canada, in the summer of 1837 to Josiah Platt and his wife Sophia, James Platt was raised in

Burlington, Vermont Burlington, officially the City of Burlington, is the List of municipalities in Vermont, most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the county seat, seat of Chittenden County, Vermont, Chittenden County. It is located south of the Can ...

. He attended the common schools. Platt completed preparatory studies and graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont at Burlington in 1859 when he was 23. On February 23, 1859 he married Sarah C. Foster in

Rutland, Vermont Rutland, Vermont may refer to: *Rutland (city), Vermont *Rutland (town), Vermont *Rutland County, Vermont *West Rutland, Vermont West Rutland is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,214 at the 2020 census. The ...

. He later married the suffragist and widow Sarah Sophia Chase Decker (1856–1912), who survived him. The second Mrs. Sarah Platt was from McIndoe Falls,

Caledonia County, Vermont Caledonia County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,233. Its shire town (county seat) is the town of St. Johnsbury. The county was created in 1792 and orga ...

, and after another remarriage (to Colorado judge Westbrook Schoonmaker Decker) became the first President of the Denver Women's Club and national president of the Federation of Associated Women's Clubs.

Career

Platt practiced medicine in Vermont. During the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, Platt joined the Union Army as first sergeant of the Third Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to captain and eventually lieutenant colonel. He declined assignment to duty as chief quartermaster of the Sixth Corps. After the war, Platt settled in

Petersburg, Virginia Petersburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 33,458 with a majority bla ...

, and on April 6, 1865, and was elected to serve on the city council. In 1867, Petersburg voters also elected Platt as a member of the

.Virginia General Assembly 1619–1978 at p. 505 Platt moved to

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

before voters ratified that Constitution (and thereby satisfied Congressional requirements for Virginia's readmission to the Union). Platt then ran as a Republican, and won election to the U.S. Congress, representing

to the Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty-third Congresses. He served from January 26, 1870, to March 3, 1875, including as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds (Forty-third Congress). In 1874, conservative politicians won throughout Virginia after the

Panic of 1873 The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered an economic depression in Europe and North America that lasted from 1873 to 1877 or 1879 in France and in Britain. In Britain, the Panic started two decades of stagnation known as the "L ...

led to financial depression, and Platt lost his re-election bid. Democrat (and ex-Confederate congressman) John Goode won 49.43% of the vote, easily defeating both Platt and Independent Republican Robert Norton, and represented the district in the Forty-fourth Congress. Platt moved to New York in 1876 and engaged in the manufacture of oil products, as well as continued his medical career as director of the Mineola Children's Home. While in New York, Platt remarried, and soon moved with his wife to

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, Colorado in 1887. He had various business ventures, including insurance, paper manufacturing and mining.

Death and legacy

On August 13, 1894, Platt was found drowned in Green Lake, near

Georgetown, Colorado Georgetown is the List of municipalities in Colorado#Territorial charter municipality, territorial charter municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The town population was ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Platt, James Henry, Jr. 1837 births 1894 deaths Politicians from Burlington, Vermont University of Vermont alumni People of Vermont in the American Civil War Deaths by drowning in the United States Accidental deaths in Colorado Burials at Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado) Union army officers Emigrants from pre-Confederation New Brunswick to the United States Virginia city council members Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia New York (state) Republicans Colorado Republicans 19th-century Virginia politicians 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives