October 03

A veteran of the Thirty Years’ War, Standish sailed with the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower in 1620 to found Plymouth Colony. As the colony’s military advisor, he organized defenses, negotiated with Native American tribes, and led expeditions into the surrounding wilderness. His leadership helped ensure the survival of the early settlers during their precarious first years. Standish’s memoirs and portraits cemented his reputation as a rugged and resourceful figure in American colonial history. He remained a key figure in Plymouth until his death in 1656.