John Winthrop (1638-1707)

John Winthrop (Fitz-John Winthrop), 1638-1707, American colonial governor of Connecticut, b. Ipswich, Mass.; son of John Winthrop (1606-76). He is commonly called Fitz-John Winthrop to distinguish him from his father and his grandfather. He left Harvard to serve in the English parliamentary army, returned to America in 1663, and served in King Philip's War (1675-76). He was a member of the council of Gov. Edmund Andros , but after the latter's overthrow he helped restore Connecticut's separate government. After serving as commander of the unsuccessful invasion (1690) of Canada in King William's War, he represented Connecticut in England from 1693 to 1697 and was elected governor in 1698. He served ably until his death.

Bibliography: See R. S. Dunn, Puritans and Yankees (1962, repr. 1971).

Winthrop, John (1638–1707) colonial military leader and governor. Born the son of the governor of Connecticut, John Winthrop was also known as Fitz or Fitz-John. He reached the rank of captain in the English Army and helped restore King Charles II in 1660. Back in the colonies, he led militia on Long Island during the third Anglo-Dutch War (1673–1674), and in 1687 was appointed major general in charge of the combined militias of Connecticut and Massachusetts. During King William's War in 1690 he led a colonial-Indian force from Albany in an unsuccessful campaign into Canada. In 1698 he was elected governor of Connecticut, a position he held until his death in Boston nine years later.