Fitz-John Winthrop

Major-General Fitz-John Winthrop (March 14, 1639 – November 27, 1707) was an English military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Connecticut from 1698 to 1707, when he died in office.

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

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. In 1686 Winthrop was one of the council of Governor Andros. He was a Magistrate of Connecticut in 1689, 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.

Personal life About 1677, he entered into a common-law marriage with Elizabeth Tongue. Together, the couple had one daughter: who married Johannes Livingston (1680–1720), son of Robert Livingston the Elder.

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.