Winthrop, John (1588–1649)

American colonist and first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. A devout Puritan and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Company 1628, he served as Massachusetts governor or deputy governor until his death. He first arrived in New England with a large group of settlers 1630. He was a founder of the city of Boston the same year.

Winthrop was born in Suffolk, England, and was educated at Cambridge University. He studied law at Gray's Inn and became a barrister 1628. Deeply conservative, he favoured the prosecution and banishment of Anne Hutchinson 1638. His History of New England from 1630 to 1649 was published 1825.

Winthrop, John (1638–1707)

US soldier and colonial governor. Born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, the son and grandson of colonial governors, he commanded Connecticut militia against the Dutch in 1673 and the French in 1690 and served as governor of Connecticut (1698–1707).

Winthrop, John (1714–1779)

US astronomer and mathematician. He was the first thorough American scientist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts (and descended from John Winthrop, colonial governor), he was a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Harvard (1738–79). He kept a detailed journal of the weather in Cambridge during 1742–79, and he predicted the return of Halley's Comet in 1759. He performed advanced studies in astronomy and introduced algebra and calculus to the Harvard curriculum. He was an ardent patriot during the American Revolution.