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Miles Standish - English Colonist (1584?-1656)
Born in England, as a young man he served as a mercenary soldier in the Netherlands. In 1620 he sailed for the American colonies with the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower. He was appointed captain, oversaw the defenses of the Plymouth colony, and negotiated on its behalf in England as an agent for the colonists' supplies and land rights. He was active in leadership of the colony and a member of the colony's governing council for 29 years. He and fellow colonist John Alden founded the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1631, and lived there until his death.
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John Rolfe - English Colonist (1585-1622)
Emigrated from England to the Jamestown colony in Virginia in 1610. He discovered a method of curing tobacco, leading to its cultivation as a trading commodity that was responsible for Virginia's economic prosperity in the 1600s and 1700s. In 1614 he married a Native American princess, Pocahontas, who had been taken prisoner and converted to Christianity. They journeyed to England in 1616 where she met the King and Queen, but she died of smallpox before she could return to America. Rolfe returned to America and was later killed, probably by a local Indian tribe.
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John Carver - English Colonist (1576-1621)
He left England in 1609, joining the Pilgrims in the Netherlands, providing financial support and assisting them in obtaining backing for their voyage to the New World. He chartered their ship, the Mayflower, and with other Pilgrims from London sailed to America in 1620. He was elected as the first Governor of Plymouth colony.
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William Penn - English Colonist (1644-1718)
Born to a prominent family, he became a Quaker and wrote numerous books and pamphlets. Jailed several times for his non-conforming religious views, he was a politically active advocate of religious tolerance and open elections. In payment of a large debt owed by the English crown to his father, Penn was granted the land that is now Pennsylvania. He arranged many peace treaties with local Indian tribes, and oversaw the town plan of Philadelphia.
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Peyton Randolph - American Revolutionary (1721-1775)
His grandfather was the English King's attorney for Virginia. Randolph practiced law, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and first President of the Continental Congress. He was a friend of George Washington, and a cousin of Thomas Jefferson.
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Charles Carroll - American Revolutionary (1737-1832)
Born in Maryland, he particpated as a member of revolutionary committees, and as a member of the Continental Congress. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and later was elected as a U.S. Senator.
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Thomas Nelson - American Revolutionary (1738-1789)
Born in Virginia, he was a member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Later elected Governor of Virginia.
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Francis Lee - American Revolutionary (1734-1797)
He came from a prominent Virginia family. He and his brother, Richard Henry Lee, were famous revolutionary statesmen. Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, delegate to the Continental Congress, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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John Nixon - American Revolutionary (1733-1808)
He was a soldier in the French and Indian War. Nixon was the first public reader of the Declaration of Independence in State House Yard in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. Served as a colonel in the Continental Army. Later he was President of the Bank of North America between 1792 and 1808. He was an early ancestor of U.S. President Richard Nixon.
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John Stark - American Revolutionary (1728-1822)
He served in the French and Indian War. In 1775 he fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. During the American War of Independence he rose to brigadier general in the Continental Army, leading forces in New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Jersey.
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John Sullivan - American Revolutionary (1740-1795)
Studied law as young man and later became a Member of the Continental Congress. He was commissioned as a general in the Continental Army in 1775 and saw service throughout the War of Independence. Captured by the British in 1776 and later freed in a prisoner exchange. He wintered with George Washington's forces at Valley Forge. After the War he served as Attorney General of New Hampshire.
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John Paul Jones - American Revolutionary (1747-1792)
He gained seafaring experience as a young man in the British merchant marine. Moved to Virginia in 1773. He entered the American Navy at the beginning of the American War of Independence and rose quickly in rank. Organized a fleet to attack the British along with French forces. He was awarded a gold medal by Congress in 1787 for his military service. He later served briefly in the Russian Navy, and spent his last years in Paris.
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