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Edward Hopkins
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward Hopkins was born in 1600 in Shropshire, England.
Edward joined the New Haven Colony in 1637. 2 months later he moved to Hartford, Connecticut and became its first proprieter. In 1639 he became one of several Assistants to the General Court. Then, in 1640 Hopkins was elected Governor of the Connecticut Colony. Between 1640-1655, since a man could only serve a one-year term as governor consecutively at the time, Hopkins and John Haynes (Connecticut's first governor, elected 1639) would trade off as governor (save one term by George Wyllys), each serving as Deputy Governor to the other when not governor.
Hopkins survived an assassination attempt in 1646 by a Native American tribe because Connecticut protected the chief of their rival tribe, advocated the New England Confederation, and made quite a bit of money as Governor with a variety of business interests throughout Connecticut.
Hopkins returned to England often during his (rotating) stint as Governor. He became a commissioner of the Royal Navy (later admiralty commissioner), oversaw the printing of the New Haven Colony's first laws, and served in English Parliament.
Hopkins was elected a final time in 1655 (despite still being in England) as an attempt by Connecticut residents to draw back their well-respected governor. He did not return, however, and the lieutenant governor Thomas Welles served out Hopkins' final term.
Edward Hopkins died in March 1657. Among other things, Hopkins left 1000 pounds to found Hopkins School, 500 pounds to Harvard College, and to buy the land for Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
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