John Winthrop, Jr
John Winthrop, Jr. was a prominent figure in early American history, known for his contributions as a politician, scientist, and innovative thinker. Born in 1606 in England, he was the son of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop, Jr. attended Trinity College in Dublin but left due to homesickness, later embarking on travels across Europe before settling in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631. He initially became active in colonial politics, being elected as an assistant in the colony's government and later founding the settlement of Ipswich.
Winthrop, Jr.'s leadership extended to the establishment of the Connecticut Colony, where he played a crucial role in its development. He demonstrated a keen interest in practical sciences, founding the first iron works in America and creating a private library that housed over a thousand books. His scientific pursuits also included astronomy and the study of natural specimens, which he documented extensively. Following the death of his second wife, Elizabeth, in 1672, he shifted his focus more toward his scientific interests but struggled to complete many of his projects. In his later years, he returned to England, where he engaged with intellectuals and published several works under a pseudonym. Winthrop, Jr.'s legacy reflects his diverse interests and significant impact on early American society.
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Subject Terms
John Winthrop, Jr.
Politician
- Born: February 12, 1606
- Birthplace: Groton Manor, Suffolk, England
- Died: April 5, 1676
Biography
John Winthrop, Jr. was born at Groton Manor, Suffolk, England, in 1606. His father, John Winthrop, was a wealthy lawyer and fleet owner. The young Winthrop received his early education at the King Edward VIGrammar School. At the age of sixteen, he entered Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. However, he left Trinity College after a year due to homesickness and an inability to focus on his studies. Winthrop returned to England and attempted to study law, but after a year he abandoned his legal studies and took to the sea as a tourist. He traveled to France, Turkey, Italy, and Holland.
Upon returning home in 1629, Winthrop found his father preparing to leave England; a year later, his father arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he served as the colony’s governor. Winthrop stayed in England to complete his father’s business and to help his stepmother, who was expecting a child. At this time, Winthrop married Martha Fones, one of his cousins.
In 1631, Winthrop arrived in Boston with his wife and family. He was elected an assistant in the government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the beginning of a lifelong political career. In 1633, Winthrop established a settlement called Ipswich. His wife and infant daughter died at the new settlement and Winthrop returned to England after their deaths. While in England, Winthrop socialized with British businessmen and raised funds for his ventures in the American colonies. He also married his second wife, Elizabeth Reade, and they later had nine children.
In 1635, Winthrop was commissioned to establish a colony on the Connecticut River. Winthrop settled this area and established what eventually became the colony of Connecticut. Winthrop proved to be a skilled leader and the colony flourished. He also was an innovative thinker and was skilled in practical sciences. He was credited with founding the first iron works in the American colonies. He also established the first private library in the colonies, which contained more than one thousand books. He served as a fellow of the Royal Society of London. He frequently documented anthropological and biological specimens and sent numerous natural species back to England. Winthrop also was fascinated with astronomy, studying the stars through a telescope and documenting his observations.
In 1672, Winthrop’s wife, Elizabeth, died. After her death, he devoted his time to scientific endeavors. While he embarked on many worthwhile pursuits, Winthrop rarely finished his projects. In his later years, he grew to dislike the colonies and returned to England, where he socialized with other intellectuals. Before his death in 1676, Winthrop wrote numerous scientific publications under the pseudonym Eirenaeus Philalethes. The most noted of these works included A Breviary of Alchemy: Or, A Commentary upon Sir George Ripley’s Recapitulation (1677) and An Exposition upon Sir George Ripley’s Vision (1678).