William Bradford (governor)
William Bradford | |
|---|---|
A conjectural image of Bradford, produced as a postcard in 1904 by A.S. Burbank of Plymouth | |
| 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th & 11th Governor of Plymouth Colony | |
| In office May 1621 – 1 January 1633 | |
| Preceded by | John Carver |
| Succeeded by | Edward Winslow |
| In office 3 March 1635 – 1 March 1636 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Prence |
| Succeeded by | Edward Winslow |
| In office 7 March 1637 – 5 June 1638 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Winslow |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Prence |
| In office 3 June 1639 – 5 June 1644 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Prence |
| Succeeded by | Edward Winslow |
| In office 4 June 1645 – 9 May 1657 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Winslow |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Prence |
| Commissioner of the United Colonies | |
| In office 1647–1647 | |
| In office 1648–1648 | |
| In office 1649–1649 | |
| In office 1652–1652 | |
| In office 1656–1656 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ca. 19 March 1590 Austerfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 9 May 1657 (aged 67) Plymouth Colony |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy May Alice (Carpenter) Southworth |
| Children | 4 |
| Occupation | Weaver, settler |
| Profession | Colonial governor, judge |
| Portfolio | Treasurer, chief magistrate |
| Signature | |
William Bradford (c. 19 March 1590 – 9 May 1657) was an English Puritan Separatist originally from the West Riding of Yorkshire in Northern England. He moved to Leiden in the Dutch Republic in order to escape persecution from King James I of England, and then emigrated to the Plymouth Colony on the Mayflower in 1620. He was a signatory to the Mayflower Compact and went on to serve as Governor of the Plymouth Colony intermittently for about 30 years between 1621 and 1657. He served as a commissioner of the United Colonies of New England on multiple occasions and served twice as president. His journal Of Plymouth Plantation covered the years from 1620 to 1646 in Plymouth.