Myles Standish was an influential military leader of the Plymouth Colony who organized and lead the colony through the difficult task of developing their new civilization. Standish was born between 1584 and 1587, most likely in Lancashire, England although there is much stipulation between historians over the exact date and location of his birth. Once Myles reached adulthood, he joined the army of Queen Elizabeth I and eventually gained the rank of lieutenant. Due to his wide military background and experience, the pilgrims hired him to act as their military captain and manage all contact with pilgrims from other countries, such as the French, Spanish, and Dutch; and the Native American people. Myles Standish and his wife Rose left Plymouth, England on board the Mayflower on September 6, 1620. When they arrived in …show more content…
On November 15, 1620, Myles Standish lead a group of 16 men to explore the land near and around Cape Cod in order to insure that it was safe and suitable for the prosperity of the Plymouth Colony. Life in the colony was devastating during the first winter in America; Myles Standish was one of the very few men who survived the first winter in the New World. Tragically, Myles’s wife, Rose, did not survive that fatal winter, leading Standish to later marry Barbara Mullins in 1624. Together Myles and Barbara Standish had seven children, Charles, Alexander, John, Myles, Lora, Josiah, and Charles II, all born in the New World. As the elected military officer of the newly founded Plymouth Colony, Myles