Fitz-John Winthrop (March 14, 1637 – November 27, 1707), was the governor of the

Colony of Connecticut The ''Connecticut Colony'' or ''Colony of Connecticut'', originally known as the Connecticut River Colony or simply the River Colony, was an English colony in New England which later became Connecticut. It was organized on March 3, 1636 as a settl ...

from 1698 until his death on November 27, 1707.Winsor, Justin (1887) ''Narrative and critical history of America, Volume 5'' Houghton, Mifflin and Co.,Bosto
page 111
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Early life

Winthrop was born in

Ipswich, Massachusetts Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,785 at the 2020 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island. A reside ...

, the eldest son of

John Winthrop the Younger John Winthrop the Younger (February 12, 1606 – April 6, 1676) was an early governor of the Connecticut Colony, and he played a large role in the merger of several separate settlements into the unified colony. Early life Winthrop was born ...

and Elizabeth (Reade) Winthrop. Winthrop was sent to

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

, but failed the entrance examination.

Career

In 1658, Winthrop went to England. He served in the English

New Model Army The New Model Army was a standing army formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians during the First English Civil War, then disbanded after the Stuart Restoration in 1660. It differed from other armies employed in the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Th ...

in Scotland under General

George Monck George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...

. He accompanied Monck when he marched into England in 1660 at the head of his army and

restored ''Restored'' is the fourth studio album by American contemporary Christian music musician Jeremy Camp. It was released on November 16, 2004 by BEC Recordings. Track listing Standard release Enhanced edition Deluxe gold edition Standard ...

King Charles II to the throne. As part of the restoration settlement most of the army was paid off and disbanded. Winthrop, remained in England and was in London in 1661 when his father presented his petition to obtain a charter for the establishment of a Connecticut colony. In April 1663, both returned to

New London New London may refer to: Places United States *New London, Alabama *New London, Connecticut *New London, Indiana *New London, Iowa *New London, Maryland *New London, Minnesota *New London, Missouri *New London, New Hampshire, a New England town ** ...

. Winthrop returned to Connecticut and was a representative in 1671. He was a major in

King Philip's War King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...

, and in July 1675, Winthrop requested Wombe, an Indian gunsmith captured by

Ninigret Ninigret (also known as Juanemo according to Roger Williams) (c. 1610 This source confirms 1662 as the date of his land sales.-1677 This source suggests a date of 1667 for his land sales and a 1647 war against the Mohegans.) was a sachem of the ea ...

, as a servant. In 1686 Winthrop was one of the council of Governor Andros. He was a Magistrate of Connecticut in 1689, and in 1690 Winthrop was appointed major-general and commanded the unsuccessful expedition of the New York and Connecticut forces against Canada. From 1693 to 1698 he was Agent of the Colony to Great Britain. He was appointed governor of Connecticut in 1696 and held the post until his death in 1707.

Personal life

About 1677, he entered into a common-law marriage with Elizabeth Tongue. Together, the couple had one daughter: * Mary Winthrop (1683–1713), who married Johannes Livingston (1680–1720), son of

Robert Livingston the Elder The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

. Winthrop died in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1707. He is interred at the

King's Chapel Burying Ground King's Chapel Burying Ground is a historic graveyard on Tremont Street, near its intersection with School Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1630, it is the oldest graveyard in the city and is a site on the Freedom Trail. Despi ...

in Boston, Massachusetts. His funeral service was conducted by

Cotton Mather Cotton Mather (; February 12, 1663 – February 13, 1728) was a New England Puritan clergyman and a prolific writer. Educated at Harvard College, in 1685 he joined his father Increase as minister of the Congregationalist Old North Meeting H ...

, who called his sermon there ''Winthropi justa''.

Notes

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Winthrop, Fitz-John 1637 births 1707 deaths People from Ipswich, Massachusetts Colonial governors of Connecticut Winthrop family