John Winthrop (l. c. 1588-1649 CE) was an English lawyer best known as the Puritan leader of the first large wave of the Great Migration of Puritans from England to North America in 1630 CE and governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (founded in 1628 CE) which they settled and expanded upon, and the founder of the city of Boston. Winthrop is also known for the conflicts between his government and religious dissenters such as Roger Williams (l. 1603-1683 CE), Anne Hutchinson (l. 1591-1643 CE), and Thomas Hooker (l. 1586-1647 CE), who were expelled by the colony and settled the regions now known as Rhode Island and Connecticut.
More about: John Winthrop17th Anniversary Fundraiser
Celebrate our 17th anniversary with an anniversary gift to support free history education around the world!
$2104 / $5000
Definition
Timeline
-
c. 1558 - 1649Life of John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
-
1605John Winthrop marries his first wife, Mary Forth.
-
1615John Winthrop's first wife, Mary Forth dies; he marries his second wife Thomasine Clopton.
-
1616John Winthrop's second wife, Thomasine Clopton, dies in childbirth.
-
1618John Winthrop marries his third wife, Margaret Tyndal.
-
1630John Winthrop migrates to North America with 700 Puritan colonists to become governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
-
1630 - 1649John Winthrop serves as governor or assistant governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
-
1630John Winthrop delivers his famous sermon 'A Model of Christian Charity' either before leaving England or en route to North America.
-
25 Jun 1630The two-tined fork is introduced to North American dining by Governor John Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Prior to this event, colonists used their fingers to eat off a plate with a knife for carving and a spoon for liquids. The fork was considered a sinful luxury at first.
-
1636 - 1638John Winthrop presides over proceedings concerning the Antinomian Controversy; Anne Hutchinson and others banished from colony.
-
1636 - 1638The Pequot War; John Winthrop presides over policy concerning the massacre and enslavement of the Pequot tribe.
-
18 Jan 1644The second reported UFO sighting in North American history is recorded by the Puritan leader John Winthrop, the first occurring on 1 March 1639 and also recorded by Winthrop. The first involved a bright light flying across the sky. The second reported two bright lights rising from the water and flying south.
-
1645John Winthrop delivers his 'A Little Speech on Liberty' after his authority as a magistrate is challenged.
-
1647John Winthrop's third wife, Margaret, dies and he marries his fourth, Martha Rainsborough.
-
1649John Winthrop dies at Boston from natural causes.
