DELAPLAINE, John Ferris, diplomatist, born in New York City, 24 April 1815 ; died there, 14 February 1885, was the son of John F. Delaplaine, an old New York shipping merchant, who left a large fortune. The son was graduated at Columbia in 1833, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. After residing in New York for over twenty years he went abroad, and, when he had passed five years in travel, was attached to the American legation at Vienna. In 1866 he was made secretary of the legation, a place that he retained until 1883, when he resigned, owing to his office being abolished. While in Vienna he made a large and curious collection of bric-a-brac, clocks, pictures, and statuary. He returned to New York in 1884, and a commission in lunacy was soon afterward appointed to take charge of his affairs, on account of his mental incapacity. By his will, made in 1866, he left an estate worth about $600,000, and a subsequent codicil provided for the endowment of a Delaplaine institute for the relief of the friendless. An action yeas brought for the construction of the will, and judgment declaring the invalidity of that trust was rendered in February 1887.His brother, Isaac Clason, lawyer, born in New York City, 27 October 1817; died there. 17 July 1866. He was graduated at Columbia in 1834, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He was elected to congress from New York as a fusionist, and served from 4 July 1861, till 3 March 1863.