William Bradford
Bradford, William (1590–1657), one of the Pilgrim Fathers and a governor of Plymouth Colony. He was born in Yorkshire, England, of a well-to-do family. In 1609 he moved to Leiden, Netherlands, to gain religious freedom. He came to America on the Mayflower in 1620 and was one of the founders of Plymouth Colony. In 1621 Bradford became its second governor, succeeding John Carver. Except for five years, Bradford governed until the year before he died. His patience, foresight, and determination guided the struggling colony to success.
Bradford wrote History of Plymouth Plantation, a valuable source of information on colonial days. The manuscript was lost during the American Revolution, but was found in England in 1855.