b) John Winthrop

John Winthrop, a key Puritan figure, played a foundational role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. As the colony’s first governor, Winthrop’s vision of the colony as a “city upon a hill” exemplified the Puritan mission in New England. His leadership was pivotal in shaping the colony’s government and society, emphasizing a communal, religiously devout lifestyle, and laying a foundation for the future development of New England.