John Winthrop

John Winthrop is the main character of The Puritan Dilemma and led the English Puritans to New England in 1630. He lived from 1587 to 1649 and served as governor for most of the twenty years between 1629 and 1649 when he died. He was a greatly talented politician and colony manager and widely respected by the Puritans but also came under criticism from time to time.

Winthrop had four wives, the first three of whom died before he did; his theology required that he quickly remarry. He had numerous children. Winthrop converted to Puritanism in early adulthood and quickly became deeply zealous. Through his management of Groton Manor and his work in London as a lawyer, Winthrop quickly rose to prominence in the English Puritan community. When the apparent depravity of English society rose to what the Puritans regarded as unacceptable levels, Winthrop and others led a group of Puritans to...