Cotton Mather

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) was an American Congregational clergyman who was the son of Increase Mather. Cotton Mather was born in Boston Massachusetts and attended Harvard University. From 1685 until his death he served as minister of Boston's North Church. Along with Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, he helped conquer prejudice against smallpox inoculation in America during 1721.

There exists speculation as to the true level of involvement of Cotton Mather in the famous Salem witchcraft trials in 1692. While there is uncertainty of the extent of his participation in the Salem witchcraft investigations which led to the trials, it is generally excepted that Cotton Mather did condone the witchcraft trials. His name will forever be connected to the Salem witchcraft trials as a result of his extensive writings about witchcraft including the book Wonders of the Invisible World.

Cotton Mather wrote many books on many subjects including science, history, biographies, and theology. Some of the more famous books by Cotton Mather are Wonders of the Invisible World (1693), Magnalia Christi Americana (1702), Theopolis Americana (1710), The Christian Philosopher (1721), The Angel of Bethesda (1924), and Ratio Disciplina (1726).