Thomas Hooker

Thomas Hooker was a prominent English minister and founder of the Connecticut Colony in the early 17th century. He was a key figure in advocating for religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he led a group of settlers from Massachusetts to establish Hartford, Connecticut, establishing a government based on democratic principles and respect for individual rights. His ideas helped shape early American notions of self-governance and religious liberty, making him an influential figure in the development of the New England colonies.