John Platt Son of James Platt Founder of Fielding and Platt

Platt Family in U.S.A.

John Platt Born 1 June 1864, Gloucester, (eldest son of James Platt, M.I. Mech. E., M.Inst.C.E.,J.P., Chairman of Fielding & Platt Limited, Atlas Works, Gloucester, by his wife Elizabeth Waddington.) Educated: University Coll., London,Commissioned 2/Lieutenant (26 Feb. 1887) in 1st Gloucestershire (Western Counties) Engineer Volunteer Corps, promoted Captain 1888) Elected M.I.Mech.E. 1888. He was a consulting Engineer and Agent (in U.S.A. from 1888) for the British firms of for the British firms of Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Col. Ltd., C. & A. Parsons & Co. Ltd., Thorneycroft & Co. Ltd., and later became President of John Platt & Co. Inc. of New York, N.Y., and a director of J. F. & R. Platt Ltd., of London ( with his younger brothers Francis and Ralph).

He was presented with a Smith and Wesson revolver by the citzens of Johnston, Pennsylvania, for his bravery during the great flood there on 31 May, 1899. He was offered a knighthood by David Lloyd-George, Prime Minister of Gt. Britain, during World War I for his services to the British industrial war effort, but he declined the offer, although he remained a British subject all his life. He was responsible for introducing marine steam turbines in ships of the U.S. Navy and U.S.Merchant Marine. Mem. Am. Soc. M.E., Soc. Naval Architects and Marine Engrs., Instn. Civil Engrs. (Eng.). Clubs:P Engineers (New York); Army and Navy ( Washington, D.C.); St. Stephen’s (London). A collector of early Chinese and Korean pottery.

He resided at High Orchard, Mountainside, New Jersey. Married,
December 23, 1891, Mary Bourne Bartlett (died 15 July, 1925) daughter of Bourne Simmons Bartlett, of New Bedford, Mass. (descended from Robert Bartlett who settled in America in 1629, and bought property at Manomet, Mass. in 1680) by his wife Nancy Forrest Akin. He died at Woodland Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey, on 27 April 1942, having had issues. Hilda Platt born Riverton, N.J. 1 December, 1892 ; John Platt, Jr. born Westfield, N.J. 23 July 1894; Robert Platt born Westfield, N.J. 14 February 1901; Hugh Platt born Westfield, N.J. 11 July, 1904