William Platt d.1637

William PLATT d.1637

Biographical Note

Son of Sir Hugh Platt, agricultural writer and inventor. Matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge 1609, but did not graduate; entered Lincoln's Inn 1612, where he became a barrister in 1619. He became wealthy through inheritance and profession, and died at his estate at Highgate Hill.

Books

In his lengthy will, Platt directed that "all my librarie of bookes (except such bookes of devinitie and phisicke as ... be allotted to my wife for her private use" be given to St John's, where they were to be chained "with iron chaines to the seates in the librarie". The books reserved for his wife were to go to the College after her death. He also left extensive other bequests to the College. Ca. 40 books of his remain there today; it is not certain how large the original gift was, and how many may have been lost, or never received. Examples: St John's, Cambridge Ll.13.7, K.7.33, I.12.2, and numerous others there.

Characteristic Markings

The books in St John's carry an armorial stamp in gilt or blind.

Sources

• Will of William Platt, The National Archives PROB 11/175/324.
• British Armorial Bindings.
• Venn, J. & J. A. Alumni Cantabrigienses. Cambridge, 1922.
• William Platt at St John's College Library, Cambridge.