William Bradford (l. 1590-1657 CE) was one of the leading members of the congregation of pilgrims who came to North America aboard the Mayflower, a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and the second governor of the Plymouth Colony after the death of the first, John Carver (l. 1584-1621 CE), in 1621 CE. Bradford would hold this position for the next 30 years and was so influential that he was often referenced as the first governor of Plymouth and continues to be even in the modern era.
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Definition
Timeline
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1590 - 1657Life of William Bradford, 2nd Governor of the Plymouth Colony.
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Mar 1590William Bradford is baptized at St. Helena's Church in Austerfield, England.
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1597William Bradford lives with his uncle after his mother's death; reads the Bible and embraces the Puritan vision.
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1607William Bradford leaves England with the rest of the congregation for the Netherlands.
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1613William Bradford marries Dorothy May of the congregation; couple has one son, John.
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1620William and Dorothy Bradford leave Europe with the congregation for North America; John remains behind.
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Nov 1620William Bradford is the second person to sign the Mayflower Compact establishing a democratic government for the Plymouth Colony.
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Dec 1620Dorothy Bradford drowns off the coast of Massachusetts.
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Apr 1621William Bradford is elected Governor of Plymouth Colony after the death of John Carver.
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1623William Bradford marries his second wife, Alice Southworth; the couple have three children.
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1657William Bradford dies of natural causes at Plymouth Colony.
