Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 45.djvu/419

 preface the author claims to have combined the merits of Francis Fox [q. v.] and Clement Cruttwell [q. v.] The commentary is free from sectarian bias. Another edition, in 4 vols. 8vo, appeared in 1830.

Platts also published: 1. ‘Reflections on Materialism, Immaterialism, the Sleep of the Soul … and the Resurrection of the Body; being an Attempt to prove that the Resurrection commences at Death,’ Boston, 1813. 2. ‘Letter to a Young Man, on his renouncing the Christian Religion and becoming a Deist,’ 1820. 3. ‘The Literary and Scientific Class-book,’ &c., 1821, 12mo; a selection was published by L. W. Leonard in 1826. 4. ‘Elements of Ecclesiastical History’ [1821?] 5. ‘The Book of Curiosities; … with an Appendix of entertaining and amusing Experiments and Recreations’ (a few plates), 1822, 8vo; a seventh American edition appeared at Philadelphia in 1856. 6. ‘The Female Mentor, or Ladies' Class-book; being a new Selection of 365 Reading Lessons,’ &c., Derby, 1823, 8vo. 7. ‘A Dictionary of English Synonymes’ (for the use of schools), 1825, 12mo. 8. ‘The Manners and Customs of all Nations’ (engravings), 1827, 8vo.

[Information kindly supplied by the Rev. H. Thomas of Doncaster; Hatfield's Historical Notices of Doncaster; Christian Reformer, August 1837; Platts's works; Notes and Queries, 8th ser. ix. 264; Allibone's Dict. Engl. Lit. ii. 1607; Brit. Mus. Cat.] 

PLAW, JOHN (1745?–1820), architect, born about 1745, was an architect and master-builder in Westminster in good practice. He built the new church at Paddington (1788–91), and Mrs. Montagu's house in Portman Square (1790), from the designs of James Stuart. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists, and signed their declaration roll in 1766. He first exhibited architectural designs with them in 1773; and in 1790, when the society resumed their exhibitions after an interval of seven years, Plaw was their director, exhibiting that year and at their final exhibition in 1791. He also exhibited occasionally at the Royal Academy, his name appearing for the last time in 1800. In 1795 he removed to Southampton, where he built the barracks (1806). Plaw published in 1785 ‘Rural Architecture; or Designs from the simple Cottage to the decorated Villa;’ later editions of this work appeared in 1794, 1796, and 1802. In 1795 he published ‘Ferme Ornée; or Rural Improvements. A Series of Domestic and Ornamental Designs, suited for Parks … Farms, &c.,’ of which a later edition appeared in 1813; and in 1800 ‘Sketches for Country Houses, Villas, and Rural Dwellings, calculated for persons of moderate income and for a comfortable retirement; also some Designs for Cottages, which may be constructed of the simplest materials.’ All these works were illustrated by Plaw's own designs. In 1820 Plaw made an expedition to Canada, and died in May of that year on the banks of the river St. Lawrence. John Buonarotti Papworth [q. v.] was his pupil. A Miss P. Plaw, apparently a daughter of the above, exhibited architectural designs with the Society of Artists in 1790.

[Dict. of Architecture (Architect. Publication Soc.); Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1893; Catalogues of the Soc. of Artists and Royal Academy; South Kensington Cat. of Works on Art.] 

PLAYER, THOMAS (1608–1672), chamberlain of London, born in 1608, was son of Robert Player of Canterbury. He matriculated from St. Alban Hall, Oxford, on 3 Feb. 1625–6, graduating B.A. on 26 Jan. 1629–30, and M.A. on 11 April 1633 (, Alumni Oxonienses, 1500–1714). Player was one of the leading residents in Hackney, where he had a large house in Mare Street, and he soon occupied a prominent position in the city. He became a member of the Haberdashers' Company, and was elected by the livery chamberlain of London on 20 Oct. 1651 (City Record Common Hall Book, No. 3, f. 124). On 5 July 1660 he was, together with his son Thomas, knighted by Charles II at the Guildhall, and on 25 Oct. 1664 he was, as chamberlain, appointed official collector of the hearth-tax, which was to be devoted to the repayment of the 100,000l. lent by the city to the king, with interest at six per cent. Pepys records an interview which he and Lord Brouncker had with Player, ‘a man I have much heard of,’ respecting the credit of their tally, which had been lodged at the chamber of London as security for loans to the navy. Player was buried at Hackney church on 9 Dec. 1672. His wife Rebecca predeceased him, and was buried at Hackney on 4 Oct. 1667.

Their only son,, (d. 1686), succeeded to the post of chamberlain of London on the resignation of his father on 13 Nov. 1672 (City Records, Repertory 78, ff. 14, 14b). He was in 1642 one of the two captains, and subsequently became colonel, of the yellow regiment of the trained bands. He was also an active member of the Honourable Artillery Company, of which he was appointed leader in 1669. He held the post until 1677, when the Duke of York took exception to his re-election, and no leader was ever after elected. He was one of the