Platt, Thomas Collier

Platt, Thomas Collier

(1833–1910) political boss, U.S. representative/senator; born in Owego, N.Y. He started in business as a druggist and eventually rose to become president of the United States Express Company (1880–1910). His political career began in 1870 through his alliance with Roscoe Conkling. Although Platt served in both the U.S. House of Representatives (Rep., N.Y.; 1873–77) and in the U.S. Senate (Rep., N.Y.; 1881, 1897–1909), he was most effective in state politics. He ran the powerful New York Republican machine through patronage and power plays (1881–1902). His political downfall came as the star of Theodore Roosevelt ascended in New York; Platt worked to have Roosevelt sidetracked as vice-president in 1900, but Roosevelt soon became president and Platt lost much of his power.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.