Last Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Simon Bradstreet received bachelor's and master's degrees from Cambridge's Emmanuel College. He married Anne Dudley, who was the daughter of Puritan leader Thomas Dudley and later became the first published poet in North America. Dudley and Bradstreet relocated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and Dudley was soon chosen to serve as governor. Bradstreet was involved in numerous business pursuits, most notably land speculation, and founded several new towns. He also filled several important positions in local and colonial government, including deputy governor. In 1661, he was chosen as envoy to the court of Charles II, confirming the colony's charter when Charles assumed the throne of England after years of civil war. In 1679 Bradstreet was selected to serve as governor and held office until 1686, the last person to hold the position under the colony's original charter. In 1686 the colony was denied its previously held right to self-rule, and Edmund Andros was appointed governor. After Andros was removed, Bradstreet served again as governor from 1689 to 1692. Bradstreet was remarkably active even old age, maintaining his participation in government and his business pursuits almost until his death at age 94. The tomb in Salem, Massachusetts which contains the plaque memorializing Simon Bradstreet is a cenotaph. In the 1790s the Bradstreet family sold the tomb to the Hathorne-Ingersoll family, who removed and disposed of the remains inside to make room for new burials. In the 1890s researcher Robert Rantoul determined what had happened to Bradstreet's remains. His research was published, which led to placement of a plaque in Bradstreet's memory on the Hathorne-Ingersoll Tomb.
Last Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Simon Bradstreet received bachelor's and master's degrees from Cambridge's Emmanuel College. He married Anne Dudley, who was the daughter of Puritan leader Thomas Dudley and later became the first published poet in North America. Dudley and Bradstreet relocated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and Dudley was soon chosen to serve as governor. Bradstreet was involved in numerous business pursuits, most notably land speculation, and founded several new towns. He also filled several important positions in local and colonial government, including deputy governor. In 1661, he was chosen as envoy to the court of Charles II, confirming the colony's charter when Charles assumed the throne of England after years of civil war. In 1679 Bradstreet was selected to serve as governor and held office until 1686, the last person to hold the position under the colony's original charter. In 1686 the colony was denied its previously held right to self-rule, and Edmund Andros was appointed governor. After Andros was removed, Bradstreet served again as governor from 1689 to 1692. Bradstreet was remarkably active even old age, maintaining his participation in government and his business pursuits almost until his death at age 94. The tomb in Salem, Massachusetts which contains the plaque memorializing Simon Bradstreet is a cenotaph. In the 1790s the Bradstreet family sold the tomb to the Hathorne-Ingersoll family, who removed and disposed of the remains inside to make room for new burials. In the 1890s researcher Robert Rantoul determined what had happened to Bradstreet's remains. His research was published, which led to placement of a plaque in Bradstreet's memory on the Hathorne-Ingersoll Tomb.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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