Who is acknowledged as the Puritan minister that founded Rhode Island?

Roger Williams is acknowledged as the Puritan minister who founded Rhode Island. He played a crucial role in advocating for the separation of church and state and promoting religious freedom, which ultimately led to the establishment of Rhode Island as a refuge for those seeking religious tolerance. Williams was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony due to his beliefs and subsequently established a settlement in what became known as Providence, Rhode Island, in 1636. His vision for a society based on individual conscience and freedom of belief set Rhode Island apart as one of the first places in America to offer such liberties, influencing later concepts of religious freedom in the United States.