Gerrard Winstanley, English Protestant religious reformer (d. 1676)
Gerrard Winstanley (19 October 1609 – 10 September 1676) was an English Protestant religious reformer, political philosopher, and activist during the period of the Commonwealth of England. Winstanley was the leader and one of the founders of the English group known as the True Levellers or Diggers. The group occupied formerly common land that had been privatised by enclosures and dug them over, pulling down hedges and filling in ditches, to plant crops. True Levellers was the name they used to describe themselves, whereas the term Diggers was coined by contemporaries.
1609Oct, 19
Gerrard Winstanley
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Events on 1609
- 9Apr
Expulsion of the Moriscos
Philip III of Spain issues the decree of the "Expulsion of the Moriscos". - 9Jul
Freedom of religion
Bohemia is granted freedom of religion through the Letter of Majesty by the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II. - 30Jul
Fort Ticonderoga
Beaver Wars: At Ticonderoga (now Crown Point, New York), Samuel de Champlain shoots and kills two Iroquois chiefs on behalf of his native allies. - 11Sep
Manhattan Island
Henry Hudson discovers Manhattan Island and the indigenous people living there. - 13Sep
Hudson River
Henry Hudson reaches the river that would later be named after him - the Hudson River.