John CottonJOHN COTTON (1585-1652), a preeminent English clergyman, who was forced by the Church of England in 1632 to flee for New England. There he became an influential New England Puritan leader and minister. Cotton wrote several books, including Spiritual ilk for Boston Babes (1646), a catechism for children, which is considered the first children's book by an American and remained popular into the nineteenth century. Read More Read Less