Edward Winslow (15951655) was a
Separatist who traveled on the
Mayflower in 1620. He was one of several senior leaders on the ship and also later at
Plymouth Colony. Both Edward Winslow and his brother, Gilbert Winslow signed the
Mayflower Compact. In Plymouth he served in a number of governmental positions such as assistant governor, three times was governor and also was the colony’s agent in
London. In early 1621 he had been one of several key leaders on whom Governor
Bradford depended after the death of
John Carver. He was the author of several important pamphlets, including
Good Newes from New England and co-wrote with William Bradford the historic
Mourt's Relation, which ends with an account of the
First Thanksgiving and the abundance of the
New World. In 1655 he died of fever while on a British naval expedition in the Caribbean against the Spanish. He is the only Plymouth colonist with an extant portrait, and this can be seen at
Pilgrim Hall,
Plymouth, Massachusetts.