Cotton Mather , Robert Calef

Cotton Mather, born in 1663, was a prominent Puritan minister and author in colonial New England, educated at Harvard. He served as minister at Boston's Old North Meeting House alongside his father, Increase Mather, and became a significant intellectual and public figure. Mather was involved in the 1689 revolt against Governor Sir Edmund Andros and later defended his role in the Salem witch trials in his book "Wonders of the Invisible World." He was a proponent of experimental science, conducting research on plant hybridization and the variolation method for smallpox prevention, corresponding with the Royal Society of London. His advocacy for inoculation led to controversy in Boston. Mather also championed Yale College and clashed with Governor Joseph Dudley.

Mather's personal life included three marriages and several children, though only two survived him. He was born into an influential clerical family, with both his father and grandfathers being prominent ministers. Despite his early struggles with stuttering, he pursued higher education and became a prolific writer, producing nearly 400 works, surpassing his father's literary output. While he sought influence, he remained largely in his father's shadow during his career. Benjamin Franklin, despite opposing Mather's Puritanical views, cited Mather's "Bonifacius, or Essays to Do Good" as a significant influence.

Cotton Mather was a leading intellectual and public figure in colonial America, deeply involved in the theological, historical, and scientific discourse of his time. Educated at Harvard, he followed his father, Increase Mather, into the ministry at Boston's Old North Meeting House, where he preached for his entire career. Mather played a role in the 1689 revolt that overthrew Governor Sir Edmund Andros, a key event in challenging royal authority in the region. His involvement in the controversial Salem witch trials of 1692-1693, which he documented in "Wonders of the Invisible World," significantly impacted his historical reputation, drawing criticism both in his era and later. As a historian, his "Magnalia Christi Americana" is a notable work on colonial New England.

Beyond his theological contributions, Cotton Mather was an early advocate for experimental science in America. He conducted original research, including studies on plant hybridization. Notably, he investigated the variolation method for preventing smallpox, learning about the technique from an enslaved African named Onesimus. Mather shared his scientific findings with European intellectuals and the Royal Society of London, which elected him a fellow in 1713. His promotion of inoculation during the 1721 smallpox outbreak in Boston sparked considerable public opposition and debate. Despite facing criticism, his intellectual curiosity extended to practical applications, influencing later figures like Benjamin Franklin.

Mather was deeply committed to the Puritan social and religious order, though he also engaged with emerging intellectual currents. He sought the presidency of Harvard College but was unsuccessful. Mather actively supported the establishment of Yale College, viewing it as a vital center for Puritan thought in New England. He maintained extensive correspondence with intellectuals across Europe and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Glasgow in 1710. His prolific writing, spanning theological treatises, historical accounts, and scientific observations, cemented his legacy as one of colonial America's most productive authors.