Fitz-John Winthrop

The Honourable
Fitz-John Winthrop
The Honourable Fitz-John Winthrop
Governor of Connecticut
	In office; 1698–1707
Monarchs	William III (1698-1702) ; Queen Anne (1702-1707)
Preceded by	Robert Treat
Succeeded by	Gurdon Saltonstall
Personal details
Born	March 14, 1637; Boston, Massachusetts
Died	November 27, 1707 (aged 68); Boston, Massachusetts
Spouse	Elizabeth Tongue (m. 1677)
Children	Mary Winthrop
Parent(s)	John Winthrop the Younger and Elizabeth Reade
Occupation	Military officer, colonial administrator

Major-General Fitz-John Winthrop (March 14, 1639 – November 27, 1707) was a Connecticut Militia officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Connecticut from 1698 to 1707, when he died in office.^[1]^[2]

Early life

Winthrop was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, the eldest son of John Winthrop the Younger and Elizabeth (Reade) Winthrop.^[3] Winthrop was sent to Harvard, but failed the entrance examination.^[3]

Career

In 1658, Winthrop went to England.^[3] He served in the English New Model Army in Scotland under General George Monck. He accompanied Monck when he marched into England in 1660 at the head of his army and restored King Charles II to the throne.^[4] As part of the restoration settlement most of the army was paid off and disbanded.

Winthrop, remained in England and was in London in 1661 when his father presented his petition to obtain a charter for the establishment of a Connecticut colony. In April 1663, both returned to New London.^[5]

Winthrop returned to Connecticut and was a representative in 1671. He was a major in King Philip's War, and in July 1675, Winthrop requested Wombe, an Indian gunsmith captured by Ninigret, as a servant.^[6] In 1686 Winthrop was one of the council of Governor Andros. He was a Magistrate of Connecticut in 1689,^[7] and in 1690 Winthrop was appointed major-general and commanded the unsuccessful expedition of the New York and Connecticut forces against Canada. From 1693 to 1698 he was Agent of the Colony to Great Britain. He was appointed governor of Connecticut in 1696 and held the post until his death in 1707.^[4]

Personal life

About 1677, he entered into a common-law marriage with Elizabeth Tongue. Together, the couple had one daughter:^[3]

Mary Winthrop (1683–1713),^[8]^[9] who married Johannes Livingston (1680–1720), son of Robert Livingston the Elder.^[10]

Winthrop died in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1707. He is interred at the King's Chapel Burying Ground in Boston, Massachusetts. His funeral service was conducted by Cotton Mather, who called his sermon there Winthropi justa.^[1]