Who is Thomas Weston from Mayflower and what is their importance?

Weston was the Englishman that helped the Pilgrims arrange their voyage to the New World. He was a part of the Merchant Adventurers and hired the Mayflower to take them across the Atlantic. Although Weston would often berate the Pilgrims for not making a profit, Weston had his own agenda. He sent several ships of passengers to the Pilgrims without extra provisions and eventually received his own patent for the colony of Wessagussett, making him a competitor of the Pilgrims. Despite this, he expected Plymouth to care and provide for the men he sent to live in his colony.