Giles Firmin

Giles Firmin (1614–1697) was an English Congregational minister and physician, deacon in the first church in Massachusetts of John Cotton, and ejected minister in 1662.

Life The son of Giles Firmin, he was born at Ipswich. As a schoolboy he was impressed by the preaching of John Rogers at Dedham, Essex. He matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in December 1629, his tutor being Thomas Hill. At Cambridge he studied medicine.

In 1632 he went with his father to New England. While at Boston, Massachusetts, he was ordained deacon of the first church, of which John Cotton was minister. At Ipswich, Massachusetts, he received in 1638 a grant of of land. He practised medicine in New England, and was reputed a good anatomist.

By Christmas 1639 he was married to Susan Ward, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Ward, pastor of the church at Ipswich. Separation Examined, &c., 1651 [i.e. 15 March 1652]. (in this he criticises Baxter). The Question between the Conformist and the Nonconformist, &c., 1681. Πανουργία, &c., 1693 (against Richard Davis and the works of Tobias Crisp). Some Remarks upon the Anabaptist's Answer to the Athenian Mercuries, &c. (1694), (apparently his last piece).

He wrote also in defence of some of the above, and in opposition to John Owen, Daniel Cawdry, Thomas Grantham, and others.