Cotton Mather

Cotton Mather (1663-1728), son of Increase Mather, born in Boston, and educated at Harvard College (now Harvard University). He served with his father in the ministry of Boston's North Church from 1685 until the elder Mather died (1723) and served thereafter as sole pastor until his own death. Mather was a highly influential writer. His Magnalia Christi Americana (1702), an ecclesiastical history of New England, ranks among the most important and scholarly works produced during America's first 100 years. He also wrote extensively on the subject of witchcraft.

Mather's interest in science prompted him to champion inoculations against smallpox in 1721, and with the American physician Zabdiel Boylston, he did much to conquer public prejudice against the practice. Because of these achievements Mather was the first native-born American inducted into the Royal Society of London. His numerous books include works on history, science, biography, and theology. Among them are The Wonders of the Invisible World (1693), an account of the Salem witch trials; Essays to Do Good (1710); and Ratio disciplinae (1726), a discussion of Congregational church government.