Thomas Dudley

Thomas Dudley (born October 12, 1576 in Northampton , England , † July 31, 1653 in Boston , Massachusetts ) was a colonial magistrate and several times governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony . During his tenure, he clashed with his rival John Winthrop on several occasions . Dudley was the founder of Newtowne, now Cambridge, and built the first house there. As governor, he signed the Charter of Harvard College . After him it became Thomas Dudley Gate at Harvard College as well as the Dudley House.

Early years

Dudley was born in Northampton, England, to Captain Roger Dudley and Susanna Thorne. Many historians believe that Roger Dudley is a descendant of John Sutton , the first Baron Dudley. However, the exact connection is disputed. Dudley's mother, Susanna Thorne, was a descendant of Henry II of England . His father was killed in the Battle of Ivry , and Dudley was orphaned by half at the age of 14. He joined the Puritans in the late 1590s . For the next 30 years he worked with John Winthrop's fleet as an administrator for Theophilus Clinton, the fourth Earl of Lincoln, until he emigrated.

Massachusetts Bay Colony time

When tensions between the Puritans and the English government peaked in 1629, Dudley was selected as one of five officers to sail to America . He was appointed deputy commander of the fleet under the command of John Winthorp. With the flagship Arbella , Dudley landed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Immediately upon arrival, the first dispute developed between him and John Winthop over the seat of government of the new colony.

Dudley was governor of the colony in 1634, 1640, 1645, and 1650. He was deputy governor for the remainder of the time. In his letter "To the Right Honorable, My very good Lady, The Lady Bridget, Countess of Lincoln" , he described the first years of the colonists in March 1631.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Augustine Jones, The Life and Work of Thomas Dudley, The Second Governor of Massachusetts , Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 1900, pp. 3-10
2. ↑ Sidney Lee: Dictionary of National Biography , Macmillan 1909, Volume XXI, pp. 699-700
3. ↑ Joshua Scottow: MASSACHUSETTS: or The first Planters of New-England, The End and Manner of their coming thither , 1696 (Engl.)