Roger Williams (ca. 1603-1683)
Born in London, Roger Williams became a religious dissenter and founded the colony of Rhode Island. He studied for a career in the Church of England but left his theology studies in 1629, disgusted with the corruption in the church and skeptical of the liturgical teachings. He sailed to New England in 1630 to escape persecution by the Puritans in England. He believed a true church could not exist on earth until Christ returned and founded it. Thus his beliefs also conflicted with the Puritan teachings in Massachusetts. They eventually banished him from the colony in 1636. Williams sought a colonial charter in 1643-44 to establish Rhode Island. Three of his ideas were significant for the development of American culture. He argued for separation of church and state in the North American colonies, he believed in freedom of thought and opinion, and he supported freedom of religion from suppression by government.
Additional Information Can Be Found At...
Roger Williams National Memorial
Cultural Reading - Williams - Title page
Williams, Roger - Encarta Online Deluxe