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Bronze Statue of John Platt MP erected 1878, now in Alexandra Park, Oldham.

Name:
John Platt
 Relationship to Robert de Mellent de Caen, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Birth:
15 SEP 1817 Oldham, Lancashire
Father:
Henry Platt
Mother:
Sarah Whitehead
Married:
Alice Radcliffe 9 MAR 1842
Children:
Henry Platt
Born: 26 DEC 1842 OLDHAM Lancashire England
Died: 13 OCT 1914 Gordinnog, Wales
Mary Platt
Born: 3 FEB 1844
Died: 22 AUG 1875 Brooklands, Southport
Samuel Radcliffe Platt
Born: 1 JUL 1845 Oldham, Lancashire, England
Died: 5 SEP 1902 Yacht Norseman, Menai Straits, Bangor
Lucy Jane Platt
Born: 27 MAR 1847
Died: 27 DEC 1908
Frederick Platt
Born: 27 APR 1849 Oldham, Lancashire
Died: 22 SEP 1906 Barnby manor, Newark, Nottinghamshire
Joseph Arthur Platt
Born: 29 JAN 1852 Oldham, Lancashire
Died: 27 APR 1907 Tettenhall Towers, Wolverhampton
Alice Platt
Born: 21 OCT 1853
Died: 7 JUL 1931
John Harold Platt
Born: 17 MAY 1855 Oldham, Lancashire
Died: 20 DEC 1912 96 Belgrave road, Middlesex
James Edward Platt
Born: 12 DEC 1856 OLDHAM Lancashire England
Died: 20 SEP 1928 17 Park Lane, Middlesex
Emily Bertha Platt
Born: 11 JUN 1858
Died: 1950 Witherslack, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire
Florence Sarah Louisa Platt
Born: 11 MAR 1860
Died: 4 FEB 1937
Sydney Platt
Born: 2 FEB 1861
Amy Gwendoline Platt
Born: 14 APR 1862
Death:
18 MAY 1872 Hotel Le Meurice, Paris aged 54
Remarks:
John Platt was the second son of Henry Platt and the brother of Louisa Platt. He married Alice Radcliffe, the daughter of Samuel Radcliffe in 1842.

John Platt developed Platt Bros into a very successful engineering company making textile machinery.

He became the senior partner of the firm after the deaths of his father in 1842, elder brother Joseph (1815-1845), and Elijah Hibbert in 1846. He became a member of the Manchester Royal Exchange in 1842. In 1854 John and his brother James acquired Hibbert's share in the business and the firm became Platt Bros and Co.
John Platt's mechanical ability became apparent after taking out his first patent in 1846. After the statutory restrictions on export of machinery were abolished in 1843 he became the prime mover in operations of the firm and established firm's supremacy in markets of Europe. During 1850s firm became largest textile machinery maker in the world. Number of employees increased from 500 in 1843 to 7000 in 1872.

He became chairman of Oldham Liberal Party in 1847 and became mayor.
A convinced radical in politics he served as MP for Oldham from 1865 until his death.

He had become a member of the Anti-Corn Law League in 1843 and remained a lifelong advocate of free trade.

In 1857 he acquired a country estate at Bryn-y-Neuadd, Llanfairfechan and added much larger neighbouring estate of Gorddinog in 1869.

1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class 7.: Platt Brothers and Co:
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1862_London_Exhibition:_Catalogue:_Class_7.:_Platt_Brothers_and_Co


On 18 May 1872 he died suddenly from typhoid in Paris at the age of 54.
In 1878 a bronze memorial was inaugurated outside the town hall, giving Oldham its second public statue.

Probate record:
Platt, John Esq.
Effects under £800,000
The will of John platt late of Werneth Park, Oldham in the county of Lancaster and of Bryn-y-neuadd in the county of Caernarvon, Esquire who died 18 May 1872 at the "Hotel Meurice" Rue Rivoli in the city of Paris was proved at Manchester by Henry Platt of Gorddinog in the parish of Aber in the county of Caernarvonshire Esquire, Samuel Radcliffe Platt of Werneth Park Machine Maker, Frederick Platt of Werneth Park Machine Maker the sons, Thomas Hardcastle Sykes of Cringle House, Cheadle in the County of Chester, Bleacher, and Joshua Walmsley Radcliffe of Holly Lea near Rochdale in the county of Lancaster, Woolen Manufacturer, the Executors.
Grave of John Platt, Chadderton Cemetery

Hartford works at Werneth, Oldham in 2010

Brynyneuadd

Platt coat of arms - Virtute et Labore

‘Festival at Hartford Mill, Oldham, given by Mr Platt to 8000 of his WORKPEOPLE’. ‘Illustrated London News’ Jan 16th 1864 . (Courtesy of Anthony Spender)

Hotel Le Meurice, Paris, where John Platt died. (Photo in 2012 courtesy of Sue Hall)

Account of death from notebook of William Hall MRCS pg1

Account of death from notebook of William Hall MRCS pg2

Account of death from notebook of William Hall MRCS pg3


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