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Roger Williams | |
|---|---|
 Roger Williams (1872) | |
| 9th President of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations | |
| In office 1654–1657 | |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Easton |
| Succeeded by | Benedict Arnold |
| Chief Officer of Providence and Warwick | |
| In office 1644–1647 | |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Governor) |
| Succeeded by | John Coggeshall (as President) |
| Governor of Providence Plantations | |
| In office 1636–1644 | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Chief Officer) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1603 London, England |
| Died | between 21 January and 15 March 1683 (aged 79) Providence Plantations |
| Spouse | Mary Bernard |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | minister, statesman, author |
| Signature |  |
| Part of a series on |
| Baptists |
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Roger Williams (c. 1603 – March 1683)[1] was an English-born New England minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and later the State of Rhode Island. He was a staunch advocate for religious liberty, separation of church and state, and fair dealings with the Native Americans.[2]
Initially a Puritan minister, his beliefs evolved and he questioned the authority of the Puritan church in enforcing religious conformity. He was expelled by the Puritan leaders from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and he established Providence Plantations in 1636 as a refuge offering what he termed "liberty of conscience" making Rhode Island the first government in the Western world to guarantee religious freedom in its founding charter. His ideas on religious tolerance and civil government directly influenced the principles later enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.[3][4] He briefly became a Baptist, and in 1638 he founded the First Baptist Church in America in Providence.[5][6] He then moved beyond organized religion, becoming a "seeker" who did not identify with any specific church. Williams studied the language of the New England Native Americans and published the first book-length study of it in English.[7]
Today, Williams' legacy continues to shape debates on religious liberty and the role of government in matters of conscience, with his writings cited in legal arguments and Supreme Court decisions on the separation of church and state.[8][9]
- ^ "Roger Williams (American religious leader)". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ "Roger Williams". History.com. A&E Television Networks. 2009. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ Barry, John M. (May 2, 2012). "Roger Williams, America's First Rebel". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "Roger Williams, the First Amendment and the Presidential Campaign". HuffPost. July 29, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "Our History". American Baptist Churches USA. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
- ^ "First Baptist Meetinghouse, 75 North Main Street, Providence, Providence County, RI". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- ^ Lawson, Russell M. (April 2, 2013). Encyclopedia of American Indian Issues Today [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-313-38145-4.
- ^ "Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947)". Justia Law. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985)". Justia Law. Retrieved March 24, 2025.