Thomas Plater (May 9, 1769 – May 1, 1830) was an American lawyer and politician from

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

. He represented the third district of Maryland in the

U.S. House The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from 1801 to 1805. Thomas was born in

Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

, and brought up on his father's plantation of ''Sotterly'' in St. Mary's County, Maryland. He was the fourth of six children of George and Elizabeth (Rousby) Plater. His father,

George Plater George Plater III (November 8, 1735 – February 10, 1792) was an American planter, lawyer, and statesman from Saint Mary's County, Maryland. He represented Maryland in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1780, and briefly served as the sixth ...

, served Maryland in the

Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...

and governor. As the third son, Thomas wasn't likely to inherit the plantation. He did follow his father's example in that he went to the

College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

and

read law Reading law was the method used in common law countries, particularly the United States, for people to prepare for and enter the legal profession before the advent of law schools. It consisted of an extended internship or apprenticeship under the ...

. Plater was admitted to the bar and practiced law. He made his home in Georgetown and held several local offices before being elected to the 7th Congress as a

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...

in 1800. He was re-elected to the 8th Congress and served until 1805. After Plater's congressional service he resumed the private practice of law. He later moved to Poolesville in

Montgomery County, Maryland Montgomery County is the most populous county in the state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 1,062,061, increasing by 9.3% from 2010. The county seat and largest municipality is Rockville, although the census-design ...

, where he died in 1830.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Plater, Thomas 1769 births 1830 deaths College of William & Mary alumni Federalist Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland American lawyers admitted to the practice of law by reading law Politicians from Annapolis, Maryland People from Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) Maryland lawyers