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'''Roger Williams''' (1603-1683) was the founder of the colony of [[Rhode Island]] and a promoter of a strict separation between church and state. He opposed any preference by government of one religion over another, or any interference by a [[magistrate]] into religious matters.
Roger Williams was born in [[London]] and worked under the great [[English]] jurist Sir [[Edward Coke]]. Williams knew the famous [[Puritan]] [[Oliver Cromwell]] in England, but Williams had non-conformist religious views that caused him to leave England for [[Boston]] in 1631. Williams disagreed with the Anglican Puritans, who wanted to remain in the Church of England, and he moved to the [[Plymouth Colony]], which wanted to separate from the [[Church of England]]. Williams soon fought with them because he felt that ownership of land did not come from the king, but required direct purchase from [[Native Americans|Indians]].
In 1636 the Puritans in England banished Williams due to his non-conformist views, and he founded the city of [[Providence]], Rhode Island as a haven for all religions that were being denied freedom of religious speech elsewhere. Williams personally remained a [[Calvinist]]. He could speak the language of the Indians and was friendly with them, though he defended Rhode Island against [[King Philip's War]]. Williams himself earned a living based on farming and trading.
{{DEFAULTSORT: Williams, Roger}}
[[Category:Biographies]]