ROBINSON, JOHN, 1575-1625; b. England; educated at Cambridge; held a benefice vicar Yarmouth in Norfolk, but was suspended by the bishop for nonconformity; formed a church of Independents at Norwich in 1602, Persecuted by the government, its members in 1607 attempted to leave for Holland, but were prevented by the civil officers. In 1608 they renewed the attempt with success and reached Amsterdam, which in a year they left for Leyden." Here they remained 11 years, and the church was enlarged to 300 by the arrival of English exiles. In 1613 Robinson had a controversy on free-will with Episcopius, the successor of Arminius, professor in the university of Ley den. Persecuted still by archbishop Laud, the pastor favored a removal to America. In the beginning of 1620 they kept a day of fasting and prayer, and in accordance with the decision, elder Brewster with a part of the congregation set out Jan. 21 in two ships,. the Speedwell and Mayflower The vessels sailed Aug. 5, 1620, from Southampton with 120 passengers. The Speedwell being leaky put in at Dartmouth for repairs.
Again, Aug. 21, they sailed, when both ships, proving unseaworthy, they put back to 20 left the Speedwell, and the rest, 101, went on the Mityjlower. Robinson intended to follow, but died before the arrangements were complete. Nov. 9, cape 'Cod was sighted. and the next day the Mayflower entered harbor. They called it 'Plymouth, Before disembarking they formed a democratic government, and elected „John Carver governor for a year. The remainder of Robinson's church with his widow and sons John and Isaac emigrated not long after his death. Robinson was a man of -profound faith, a thorough classical scholar and a keen controversialist. He published of Separation from the Church of England; Of Religious Communion; A Defense of the Doctrine Propounded by the Synod of Dort; A Treatise of the Lawfulness of Learning of the Ministers in the Church of England; Essays or Obserrations Dirine and Moral. His complete works have been published in 3 vols. by the Congregational board of publication.