Roger Williams

Graduation Day, Pembroke College, Cambridge

Error creating thumbnail:

Witch House, Salem

The Banishment of Roger Williams

Alonzo Chappel - The Landing of Roger Williams in 1636 - 43.003 - Rhode Island School of Design Museum

Rhode Island statehood Tercentenary, 3c, 1936 issue

Error creating thumbnail:

First Baptist Church in America from Angell St 3

Roger Williams (c. 1603 – between January and March 1683) was a Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He is best known for his strong stance on religious freedom and the separation of church and state, an idea that was revolutionary in the 17th century. Williams was a staunch advocate for fair dealings with American Indians, and he was one of the first abolitionists.

Early Life

Roger Williams was born in London, around 1603. The exact date of his birth is unknown. He came from a merchant's family but was recognized early on by the jurist Sir Edward Coke for his scholastic abilities, which led to a scholarship at the Pembroke College, Cambridge. After graduating, he took holy orders in the Church of England but soon became involved with the Puritan movement, which sought to reform the church.

Emigration to America

Disenchanted with the lack of progress on church reform in England, Williams decided to emigrate to the New England colonies in 1630. He initially settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony but found himself at odds with the Puritan leaders over issues of religious freedom and the treatment of Native Americans. His views, which included the separation of church and state and freedom of religion, were seen as radical and led to his banishment from the colony in 1635.

Founding of Rhode Island

After his banishment, Williams, along with a few followers, purchased land from the Narragansett tribe and founded Providence Plantations, a settlement that provided a refuge for those seeking religious freedom. This settlement later became part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, which was granted a Royal Charter in 1644. Rhode Island became a haven for Baptists, Quakers, Jews, and other religious minorities.

Contributions and Legacy

Roger Williams's contributions to American society extend beyond the founding of Rhode Island. He was a pioneer of the principles of religious freedom and the separation of church and state, ideas that were later enshrined in the United States Constitution. His interactions with Native American tribes were also ahead of his time, advocating for fair trade and respect for their rights. Williams's work, A Key into the Language of America (1643), was one of the first books to discuss American Indian languages and culture sympathetically.

Williams's ideas on religious freedom and his actions in founding Rhode Island had a lasting impact on the development of the United States. He is remembered as a courageous advocate for liberty of conscience and a key figure in the establishment of the American principle of separation of church and state.

Death

Roger Williams died between January and March 1683 in Providence, Rhode Island. His exact date of death is not recorded, but his legacy as a proponent of religious freedom and fair treatment of Native Americans continues to be celebrated.