American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

John Milton (December 9, 1608-November 8, 1674) was an English poet and political writer. His blank-verse epic, Paradise Lost, 1667, considered a masterpiece of English literature, detailed Lucifer's revolt against God and the fall in the garden of Adam and Eve. Milton aggressively defended the Puritan cause, writing: Pro Populo Anglicano, 1651; The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, 1649; The Tetrachordon, 1645; and The Reason of Church Government, 1642, which declared that governments should exert no control over the local churches. In his middle forties, John Milton went blind, followed by his wife dying in childbirth. He continued creating by dictating his...

John Harvard (November 1607-September 14, 1638) was the first benefactor of Harvard College. Born in London, he emigrated to Massachusetts, 1637, and served as Charlestown's minister. He bequeathed his library and half of his estate for the founding of the first college in America, which was subsequently named in his honor, 1639, as recorded in the Old South Leaflets: <After God had carried us safe to New-England, and wee had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, rear'd convenient places for God's worship, and settled the Civill Government: One of the next things we longed for, and looked after...

Virginia (May 14, 1607) the first permanent colonial settlement in North America, was founded by settlers who embarked from England in December of 1606. Their initial act after landing at Cape Henry, April 26, 1607, was to erect a wooden cross and commence a prayer meeting, led by the Reverend Robert Hunt. Later that year, after Reverend Hunt's death, the settlers stated: <1607. To the glory of God and in memory of the Reverend Robert Hunt, Presbyter, appointed by the Church of England. Minister of the Colony which established the English Church and English Civilization at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. His people,...

First Charter of Virginia (April 10, 1606) granted by King James I to the settlers of the "Jamestown Colony" in Virginia. The Colony was named for the "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth I by Sir Walter Raleigh, who had explored the area and attempted to found a settlement on Roanoke Island, April 9, 1585. On August 13, 1587, the members of the colony converted the Indian Manteo, who was baptized into the Christian faith. That same month the first child was born in America, baptized with the name Virginia Dare. The Roanoke Colony was unsuccessful and became known as the "Lost Colony."...

John Eliot (1604-May 21, 1690) was a Puritan clergyman who was known as "The Apostle to the Indians," as he was the first to teach Christianity to the Indians of New England. Born in England, he graduated from Cambridge and traveled to Boston, 1631, to serve as a teacher and pastor. A young Indian who had converted from paganism to Christianity helped Eliot learn the various Indian dialects. John Eliot was responsible for having written the first Indian translation of the Bible and the first Indian grammar book. In addition, he established 3,600 Indians into over a dozen self-governing communities....