Congregational minister and writer, born in Dorchester (now part of Boston), Massachusetts, USA. He studied at Harvard and Dublin, and was put in charge of Great Torrington, Devon; but in 1661, finding it impossible to conform, he returned to America, and from 1664 until his death was pastor of the Second Church, Boston. He also became president of Harvard (16811701). He published no fewer than 136 separate works, including Remarkable Providences (1684) and a History of the War with the Indians (1676). Sent to England in 1689 to lay colonial grievances before the king, he obtained a new charter from William III.
| Increase Mather | |
|---|---|
| Increase Mather in 1688, when he was in London. Portrait by John van der Spriett | |
| Born |
June 21, 1639 Dorchester, Massachusetts |
| Died |
August 23, 1723 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Minister |
| Spouse | Maria Cotton and Ann Cotton |
The Reverend Increase Mather (June 21, 1639 — August 23, 1723) was a major figure in the early history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay (now the Federal state of Massachusetts).
Early life
Increase was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts following their participation in the Great Migration from England due to nonconformity with the Church of England.
Education
In 1651 Mather was admitted to Harvard where he roomed with and studied under John Norton.
Establishing himself in Massachusetts
In 1661, with the advent of the English Restoration and resurgence of Anglicanism, Increase returned to Massachusetts, where he married Maria Cotton.
He was ordained as minister of the Old North Church, whose congregation included many of the upper class and governing class, By virtue of his position he quickly became one of the most influential people in the colony, both religiously and politically.
Harvard
In June 11, 1685 he became the Acting President of Harvard University (Then Harvard College) and steadily advanced: A little over a year later on July 23, 1686 he was appointed the Rector.
He was rarely present on campus or in the town, Despite his absences he did make some changes: reimplementation Greek and Hebrew instruction, replacement classical Roman authors with Biblical and Christian authors in ethics classes and enactment of requirements that students live and eat on campus, attend classes regularly and that seniors not haze other students.
Getting involved in politics
While politics and Puritan religion were closely related during Increase's life time, his first direct involvement with politics occurred as a result of James II of England's manipulation of the New England governments.
While there he published pieces to build popular support for his petitions, such as A Narrative of the Miseries of New-England, By Reason of an Arbitrary Government Erected there Under Sir Edmund Andros (1688) and A Brief Relation for the Confirmation of Charter Privileges (1691).
Involvement in the Salem witch trials
As an influential member of the community, Increase was involved in the notorious witch hysteria of Salem, Massachusetts.
Later life and death
Following Maria's death in August 1714, he remarried.
Beliefs
Throughout his life Mather was a staunch Puritan, opposing anything openly contradictory to it, mutually exclusive with it, or potentially "distracting" from it.
He was strenuous in attempting to keep people to his idea of morality,
During his tenure at Harvard he regularly stamped out any relaxation of Puritan strictness, such as latitudinarianism, which had flourished during his overseas absence.
"Increase"
The stated reason for his first name was "...the never-to-be-forgotten increase, of every sort, wherewith God favoured the country about the time of his nativity."
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