born June 21, 1639, Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony
died Aug. 23, 1723, Boston
American Puritan leader.
The son of a Puritan cleric, he was educated at Harvard College and at Trinity College, Dublin. He returned to New England and served as minister of Boston's North Church (16611723). He and his son Cotton Mather lobbied successfully for the removal of the hated governor of Massachusetts, Edmund Andros , and obtained a new charter for the colony in 1691. He served as president of Harvard College (16851701). His writings include Case of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men (1693), which helped end the Salem witch trials . See also Puritanism .