Puritans believed that science and religion were compatible. Studying God’s creation was needed to recover knowledge lost in the fall of Adam and Eve
John Winthrop Jr.
After experience in
Massachusetts government,
John Winthrop Jr. founded
New London, Connecticut,
eventually becoming
Governor of the Connecticut colony. He had a serious
interest in science, medicine and technology and
corresponded with other like-minded “Christian
Alchemists” in Europe. (Early alchemists were
interested in chemistry and metallurgy, not merely
creating gold from lead.) Winthrop hoped to make New
London a center for scientific research but his plans were
frustrated by wars involving the New England colonies
and Native people.
John Winthrop Jr.
John Winthrop Jr. had a reputation for moderation and personal warmth. He became the leading doctor in New England (although his methods were not advanced) and attempted to shelter Native people who were victims of warfare
- by Sir Peter Lely
Blast Furnace
Remains of the John Winthrop, Jr. blast furnace in present day Quincy, Massachusetts
- James L. Woodward
Better Living
Through Religion
Several scholars, including
Max Weber and Robert
K. Merton, have noted the
Puritan interest in science.
Some Puritans believed
that they would be favored
with scientific discoveries
and that improved living
standards would prepare for
the Millennium when Christ
would return for a thousand
year reign.
Science and Tolerance
Winthrop believed that
scientific knowledge was not
limited to Calvinist Protestants.
He traveled to Turkey to learn
of discoveries in the Muslim world and to Catholic
Belgium to study iron works. He tried unsuccessfully
to establish a blast furnace in Braintree but the
continental technology was used later at the Saugus
Iron Works. Although he believed in witchcraft, he
suspected that deviant behavior might have other
explanations. After becoming governor there were
no witchcraft convictions in Connecticut.
Saugus Iron Works
European technology studied by John Winthrop Jr. was used at the Saugus Iron Works.
- Photo: Daderot
Saugus Iron Works
European technology studied by John Winthrop Jr. was used at the Saugus Iron Works.
- Photo: John Phelan
Winthrop hoped to find silver in central Massachusetts and transport it overland to the Thames River for shipment to New London. The silver mine never materialized.
- John Seller
Shiny Objects
Winthrop and business partners
searched for silver in the area of present
day Southbridge, Massachusetts.
Discovering only graphite their plans
were shattered although they saw
possibilities of selling graphite combs
in Italy and Spain as a method of hair
coloring for women.