Roger Williams

Home > ... > People > History > U.S. History: Biographies > ...

Roger Williams

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Roger Williams c.1603-1683, clergyman, advocate of religious freedom, founder of Rhode Island , b. London. A protégé of Sir Edward Coke, he graduated from Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1627 and took Anglican orders. He early espoused Puritanism and emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1631. Williams became a teacher (1632) and, after a stay at Plymouth, minister (1634) of the Salem church. However, his radical religious beliefs and political theories—he denied the validity of the Massachusetts charter, challenged the Puritans to acknowledge they had separated from the Church of England, and declared that civil magistrates had no power over matters of conscience—alarmed the Puritan oligarchy, and the General Court banished him in 1635.

In the spring of 1636 he founded Providence on land purchased from the Narragansett. To Providence, a democratic refuge from religious persecution, came settlers from England as well as Massachusetts. There were four settlements in the Narragansett Bay area by 1643, when Williams went to England. Through the influence of powerful friends such as Sir Henry Vane (1613-62), he obtained from the Long Parliament a patent (1644) uniting the Rhode Island towns of Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick with Providence. In 1651, William Coddington secured a commission annulling the patent, but Williams, with John Clarke , hastened again to England and had the patent restored. (Its grant of absolute liberty of conscience was later confirmed by the royal charter of 1663.) On his return in 1654, Williams was elected president of the colony and served three terms. Always a trusted friend of the Native Americans (he wrote Key into the Language of America, 1643), he often used his good offices in maintaining peace with them, but he was unable to prevent the outbreak of King Philip's War (1675-76), in which he served as a captain of militia.

Williams, though he remained a Christian, disassociated himself from existing churches. His writings, reprinted in the Narragansett Club Publications (1866-74), reveal the vigor with which he propounded his democratic and humanitarian ideals. The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience (1644) was condemned by John Cotton , who was answered with The Bloudy Tenent Yet More Bloudy (1652). Other works include Queries of Highest Consideration (1644), an argument for complete separation of church and state; The Hireling Ministry None of Christ's (1652); and George Fox Digg'd Out of His Burrowes (1676), a polemic against Quaker teachings. Of great personal charm and unquestioned integrity, Williams was admired even by those who, like both the elder and the younger John Winthrop, abhorred his liberal ideas.

Bibliography: See biographies by S. H. Brockunier (1940), P. Miller (1953, repr. 1962), O. Winslow (1957, repr. 1973), E. S. Morgan (1967), and J. Garrett (1970).

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-WmsRog" title="Facts and information about Roger Williams">Roger Williams</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Roger Williams." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Roger Williams." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-WmsRog.html

"Roger Williams." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-WmsRog.html

Learn more about citation styles

Williams, Roger

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | © The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Williams, Roger (c.1604–83). Advocate of religious toleration, and an American colonist. After ordination (probably in 1629) he became chaplain to Sir William Masham, but separatist views compelled him to seek religious freedom in N. America (1630). He established a settlement which he named ‘Providence’ (1636), and founded Rhode Island where he formed the first Baptist church in the colonies.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O101-WilliamsRoger" title="Facts and information about Roger Williams">Roger Williams</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Williams, Roger." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Williams, Roger." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (December 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-WilliamsRoger.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Williams, Roger." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved December 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-WilliamsRoger.html

Learn more about citation styles

Williams, Roger

The Oxford Companion to British History | 2002 | | © The Oxford Companion to British History 2002, originally published by Oxford University Press 2002. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Williams, Roger (c.1603–83). Colonist. Williams was born in London, attended Pembroke College, Cambridge, and took holy orders. In 1630 he left England for Massachusetts but his belief that magistrates should have no power over conscience gave him an uncomfortable time when he was appointed to the church at Salem. His sympathy for the local Indians also made him suspect to many of his fellow-colonists. Expelled from Massachusetts in 1636, he founded a settlement at Providence and in 1639 established a baptist church, though he subsequently became a seeker, acknowledging no creed. In 1644 he visited England and obtained a charter of self-government for Providence—the foundation of Rhode Island. The colony soon became known for its tolerant attitude and Jews and quakers were allowed to settle. In 1654–7 Williams served as governor. Milton, whom he knew well, admired him as a champion of religious liberty: Cotton Mather thought he had ‘a windmill in his head’.

J. A. Cannon

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O110-WilliamsRoger" title="Facts and information about Roger Williams">Roger Williams</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN CANNON. "Williams, Roger." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Williams, Roger." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (December 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-WilliamsRoger.html

JOHN CANNON. "Williams, Roger." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Retrieved December 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-WilliamsRoger.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Roger Williams.(Book review)
Magazine article from: Baptist History and Heritage; 3/22/2006
Free Article Roger Williams and Native Americans.(Editorial)
Magazine article from: Baptist History and Heritage; 3/22/2008
Free Article The Challenges of Roger Williams: Religious Liberty, Violent Persecution, and the Bible.(Book Review)
Magazine article from: Baptist History and Heritage; 3/22/2004

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

FIRST LADY SPEAKS AT ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 5/20/2006; 700+ words ; ...issued the following remarks: Roger Williams University 10:53 A.M. EDT...m so proud to be part of the Roger Williams University now with this degree...you and congratulations to the Roger Williams University Class of 2006. (Applause...
Roger Williams: pioneer on America's journey towards religious liberty.(Report)
Magazine article from: Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table; 9/22/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...Abstract The radical English Puritan Roger Williams (1603 - 1683) lived too early...Baptists may never have heard of Roger Williams. His statue adorns a national...liberty and freedom of conscience. Roger Williams is best known as the "first American...
Roger Williams Medical Center indicted in corruption case.
Newspaper article from: Providence Journal (Providence, RI); 1/6/2006; 700+ words ; ...Stanton Jan. 6--PROVIDENCE -- Roger Williams Medical Center yesterday became...champion legislation that benefited Roger Williams, defeat legislation that would...and mail fraud, alleges that Roger Williams and its representatives stole...
GOV. CARCIERI, ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH, HEALTH DIRECTOR GIFFORD ANNOUNCE OVERSIGHT AGREEMENT WITH ROGER WILLIAMS HOSPITAL
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 4/7/2006; 700+ words ; ...Gifford today announced that the state and Roger Williams Medical Center/Roger Williams Hospital have reached an agreement on a set...HEALTH) will issue a license for 2006 to Roger Williams Hospital. The new license will include a set...
LAURA BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
News Wire article from: Political Transcript Wire; 5/21/2006; 700+ words ; ...LAURA BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY...m so proud to be part of the Roger Williams University now with this degree...you and congratulations to the Roger Williams University Class of 2006. (Applause...
LAURA BUSH FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES LAURA BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Transcript from: Washington Transcript Service; 5/20/2006; 700+ words ; ...LAURA BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY...m so proud to be part of the Roger Williams University now with this degree...you and congratulations to the Roger Williams University Class of 2006. (Applause...
Roger Williams.(Book review)
Magazine article from: Baptist History and Heritage; 3/22/2006; ; 700+ words ; Roger Williams. By Edwin S. Gaustad. Oxford and...separation between church and state," Roger Williams pioneered in democracy, religious liberty...with growth in the Great Awakening, Roger Williams served as a missionary to and advocate...
TEMPORARY STOP SIGN GOES UP AT PLEASANT, ROGER WILLIAMS
Newspaper article from: News-Sun, The (Waukegan, IL); 4/29/1998; 634 words ; ...the intersection of Pleasant and Roger Williams avenues in the Ravinia business...cons of putting up stop signs on Roger Williams, the City Council Monday night...from Pleasant or Broadview onto Roger Williams is poor. Ellen Krumbine, who...
Roger Williams: soul man: how an eccentric 17th-century preacher helped bring religious liberty to America.(Interview)
Magazine article from: Church & State; 7/1/2005; 700+ words ; ...Riverside. He is an expert on Roger Williams, the 17th-century religious...in America. In his new book, Roger Williams (Oxford University Press...discusses the life and ideas of Roger Williams. The book is available at online...
Roger Williams and Native Americans.(Editorial)
Magazine article from: Baptist History and Heritage; 3/22/2008; ; 700+ words ; Several years ago I read Roger Williams's Christenings Make Not Christians...gospel than coercion. (1.) Roger Williams, Christenings Make Not Christians...in The Complete Writings of Roger Williams, 7 vols., ed. Perry Miller...
Click to see an enlarged picture
Roger Williams. Other (Public Domain)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Current Roger Williams News: