The New Student's Reference Work/Cotton, John

Cotton, John (1585-1652), an eminent Puritan minister, was for 20 years pastor of Boston in Lincolnshire, England, and for almost as long in Boston, New England. Cotton, whose Puritan leanings made him an object of suspicion under the primacy of Laud, was to have been brought before the Court of High Commission for trial. He escaped, however, to London and, later, to Boston, New England. Both in England and in New England, the reputation of Cotton for learning was of the highest. He had an absolute command of Latin, Greek and Hebrew; and loved “to sweeten his mouth with a piece of Calvin” at the close of his day of twelve hours' study. Cotton opposed Anne Hutchinson, whom he had at first been disposed to favor; and disputed also with Roger Williams. Among his many works was the catechism Milk for Babes.