Eaton, Theophilus

Eaton, Theophilus

▪ British colonial governor
born c. 1590, , Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, Eng.
died Jan. 7, 1658, New Haven, Conn.

      merchant who was cofounder and colonial governor of New Haven colony.

      As a youth, Eaton went to London as a merchant apprentice. He began his own commercial enterprise trading with Baltic seaports, and his successes in business resulted in his election as deputy governor of the East-Land Company and also in his appointment to the court of Denmark as agent for Charles I.

      When he returned to London from his residence in Copenhagen, Eaton became interested in the settlement of New England. He was one of the original patentees of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Eaton had adopted firm Puritan beliefs, and in early 1637 he joined his boyhood friend John Davenport and several Puritan followers in migrating to New England. The group arrived in Boston in June, but instead of settling in Massachusetts Bay, they established an independent colony at New Haven (Quinnipiac) in April 1638. The next year Eaton was elected governor of the colony, and he was reelected annually until his death.

      In 1643 Eaton became an original commissioner in the New England Confederation, and 12 years later he and Davenport drew up a new legal code for New Haven colony. As governor, Eaton also became involved in various mercantile endeavours, some of which provoked tensions with the Dutch in neighbouring New Netherlands. The last years of his life, however, were devoted primarily to agricultural pursuits, along with his duties as governor.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Theophilus Eaton — (* 1590 bei Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England; † 7. Januar 1658 in Hartford, Connecticut) war ein englischer Siedler in Amerika, Händler, Farmer und Puritaner. Ferner war er ein kolonialer Führer, sowie Mitbegründer und erster Gouverneur… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Theophilus Eaton — (1590 ndash; January 7, 1658) was a merchant, farmer, and Puritan colonial leader who was the co founder and first governor of New Haven Colony, Connecticut.Early life and first marriageHe was born at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England in… …   Wikipedia

  • Eaton — ist der Name folgender Orte: im Vereinigten Königreich: Eaton (Shropshire) in den Vereinigten Staaten: Eaton (Arkansas) Eaton (Colorado) Eaton (Idaho) Eaton (Indiana) Eaton (Kansas) Eaton (Maine) Eaton (New York) Eaton (Ohio) Eaton (Tennessee)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Eaton (surname) — Eaton is a surname, and may refer to:;Academics *Amos Eaton, scientist and educator *Nathaniel Eaton, the first schoolmaster of Harvard College;Arts *Charles Warren Eaton, American landscape artist *Edith Maude Eaton, author *Gerald Eaton,… …   Wikipedia

  • Theophilus — Various people have been known by the name Theophilus or Theophilos, which means Friend of God in Greek, and is thus similar to the Latin word Amadeus PeopleArts* Teófilo Braga * Theophilus Cibber (1703–1758), English actor, playwright, author,… …   Wikipedia

  • Theophilus Eaton — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Eaton (homonymie). Theophilus Eaton (1590 – 7 Janvier, 1658) était un marchand, fermier, et un leader colonial puritain qui était le co fondateur et premier gouverneur de la Colonie de New Haven, Connecticut.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Eaton, New Hampshire — Infobox Settlement official name = Eaton, New Hampshire nickname = motto = image imagesize = image caption = mapsize = 250px map caption = Location in Carroll County, New Hampshire settlement type = Town mapsize1 = map caption1 = subdivision type …   Wikipedia

  • Eaton — /eet n/, n. 1. Theophilus, 1590 1658, English colonist and colonial administrator in America. 2. a male given name. * * * eaton obs. form of etin, giant …   Useful english dictionary

  • Eaton — biographical name Theophilus 1590 1658 English colonial administrator in America; governor of New Haven colony (1638 58) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Eaton — /eet n/, n. 1. Theophilus, 1590 1658, English colonist and colonial administrator in America. 2. a male given name. * * * …   Universalium

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