Who was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

John Winthrop was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, serving from 1630 to 1634 and then again from 1637 to 1640. He played a significant role in the establishment of the colony and is often regarded as a leading figure in its early development. Winthrop is known for his vision of the colony as a "city upon a hill," which was intended to be a model of Puritan virtue and governance.

In contrast, William Penn was the founder of Pennsylvania and known for his role in promoting religious freedom for Quakers. Roger Williams was a key figure in the founding of Rhode Island and advocated for separation of church and state but was not involved with the governance of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Pizarro, on the other hand, was a Spanish conquistador known for his conquest of the Inca Empire in South America, making him unrelated to the early governance of any American colony. This context highlights the significance of John Winthrop in the history of Massachusetts and the early colonial period.