Cotton, John (1584-1652), was a Puritan minister and author. He was born on Dec. 4, 1584, in Derby, England. While serving as vicar of St. Botolph’s Church in Lincolnshire from 1612 to 1633, Cotton became widely known as a pastor and preacher. In 1633, he fled to America to escape persecution as a Puritan. While serving with a church in Boston, Cotton became one of the most respected leaders of New England. Many New England children memorized his catechism, Milk for Babes (1646).
Cotton believed that church and state should be close partners, and he often advised both about proper government. He opposed unrestrained democracy, in which people ruled themselves. Cotton believed the people should choose their rulers, who should govern according to certain unchanging principles. Cotton became New England’s spokesman against the extreme Calvinist political and religious views of Roger Williams, founder of the Rhode Island colony. Cotton died on Dec. 23, 1652.
See also Williams, Roger (In Rhode Island).
