John Leverett

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John Leverett (1616 – March 16, 1679) was a colonial magistrate, merchant, soldier and governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

John Leverett was born, perhaps, in Boston, Lincolnshire where he is thought to have been educated at Boston Grammar School before emigrating to Boston, Massachusetts with his father in 1633, where he was educated at the Boston Latin School. Though he was enjoying considerable commercial success in the colonies, he returned to England in 1644 to fight for Cromwell in the English Civil War. He evidently earned great distinction in the future Lord Protector's service, and it is said that he even befriended him.

In 1648, Leverett returned to Massachusetts, where he became one of the leading men of the colony. He served as deputy governor under governor Richard Bellingham in 1671-1673, and succeeded to his position after the governor's death. Leverett's tenure as governor is chiefly notable because of the occurrence of King Philip's War.

John Leverett died in office on March 16, 1679. He was the grandfather of the President of Harvard College of the same name.