John Winthrop (1588–1649) was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop was born in Edwardstone, Suffolk. He was an English lawyer from a rich family. He led a large group of Puritans from England in 1630. Winthrop served as governor to the newly formed Massachusetts Bay Colony and held that position for twelve years. He was one of the chief founders of New England. He saw the colony as a Puritan "City upon a hill" and a model to western Christianity.