Thomas Platter the Elder (/ˈplɑːtər/; German: [ˈplatɐ]; 10 February 1499, in Grächen, Valais – 26 January 1582, in Basel) was a Swiss humanist scholar and writer.

Born 10 February 1499,[1] Thomas Platter (the Elder) was a master of several languages, knowing Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, among others.

Considering the political situation in Zürich after this war, he left for Basel, together with his paternal friend and mentor, the Protestant theologian Oswald Myconius.

Together with Johannes Oporinus and Ruprecht Winter he led a printing house and published a large variety of classical editions.

[3] Platter the Younger also kept a diary of travels in England which provided Shakespearean scholars with evidence for the dating of certain Shakespeare plays.