Equations of motion for a transversely isotropic plate in a general state of nonuniform initial stress where the effects of transverse shear and rotary inertia are included are derived by two methods. The first method is to perturb the nonlinear equations of elasticity by an incremental deformation. The resulting equations are linearized and integrated through the thickness of the plate to obtain the plate equations. The second method is to derive nonlinear equations of motion for a thick plate variationally by Hamilton's principle. These equations are then perturbed and suitably linearized to obtain the same equations as were obtained by the first method. A reduced set of equations for a thin plate are also given. Finally, the thick plate equations are solved for a simply supported rectangular plate in a state of uniform compressive stress plus a uniform bending stress both acting in the same direction.