John Platt (16 September 1817 – 18 May 1872) was an English manufacturer of textile machinery and

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

politician. Platt was born at

Dobcross Dobcross is a village in the civil parish of Saddleworth in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. It is in a valley in the South Pennines, along the course of the River Tame and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, east- ...

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...

, the son of Henry Platt who founded

Platt Brothers Platt Brothers, also known as Platt Bros & Co Ltd, was a British company based at Werneth in Oldham, North West England. The company manufactured textile machinery and were iron founders and colliery proprietors. By the end of the 19th centur ...

textile machinery manufacturers in 1770. which by 1820 was based at Werneth area of Oldham. Platt was elected as the first Liberal Mayor of

Oldham Oldham is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers River Irk, Irk and River Medlock, Medlock, southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative cent ...

in 1854 and held office again in 1855–56. By the mid-1850s his company had established itself as the world's largest textile machinery manufacturer. Platt acquired property in

Llanfairfechan ; ) is a town and community in the Conwy County Borough, Wales. It is known as a seaside resort and had a population at the 2001 Census of 3,755, reducing to 3,637 at the 2011 Census. The history of the area dates back to at least Roman time ...

North Wales in 1857 and rebuild Bryn Y Neuadd as a magnificent mansion. He was mayor of Oldham again in 1861–62. In 1865 he was elected Member of Parliament for

. He held the seat until his death in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

on 18 May 1872, at the age of 55. Platt married Alice Radcliffe in 1842. She died at Oakleigh, Leamington, on 19 December 1902, aged 79. *Their second son Samuel Radcliffe Platt (1844–1902) became head of the firm Platt Brothers, and was

High Sheriff of Lancashire The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient office, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales. The High Sheriff of Lanca ...

in 1897. *Their daughter Mary married

Thomas Hardcastle Sykes Thomas Hardcastle Sykes (15 February 1833 – 25 April 1901) was an English bleacher and businessman and was High Sheriff of Cheshire. Sykes was born at Edgeley House Stockport, the third son of Richard Sykes, owner of the Sykes Bleaching Company, ...

of the Sykes Bleaching Company. Platt's younger brother James Platt (1824–1857) was also elected MP for Oldham in 1857, but was killed that same year in

Greenfield Greenfield or Greenfields may refer to: Places Canada * Greenfield, Edmonton, Alberta, a neighbourhood * Greenfield, Colchester County, Nova Scotia * Greenfield, Hants County, Nova Scotia * Greenfield, Kings County, Nova Scotia * Greenfield, Q ...

at Ashway Gap on Saddleworth Moor by an accidental discharge of the gun of Josiah Radcliffe, the Mayor of Oldham.The Oldham Chronicle, August 29 1857 - Melancholy and Untimely death of James Platt, Esq, M.P.
/ref> A statue was erected of John Platt in Oldham by

David Watson Stevenson David Watson Stephenson (25 March 1842 – 18 March 1904) was a Scottish sculptor, executing portraits and monuments in marble and bronze. Biography Stevenson was born in Ratho, Midlothian, Scotland, on 25 March 1842, the son of William Stev ...

in 1878.

References

External links

*
John Platt monument Oldham
{{DEFAULTSORT:Platt, John 1817 births 1872 deaths Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1865–1868 UK MPs 1868–1874 19th-century English businesspeople