Who Were the Mayflower Pilgrims?

The Mayflower Pilgrims were a group of English Separatists (often called Puritans) who fled religious persecution in England. In 1620, 102 passengers and about 35 crew sailed from Plymouth, England, aboard the Mayflower to establish a colony in North America where they could practice their faith freely.

Key Figures

• William Bradford: Longtime governor of Plymouth Colony.
• John Carver: First governor of Plymouth.
• Myles Standish: Military leader of the colony.

They founded Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts, laying foundations for future New England settlements.