New London and the Alchemical Plantation

Abstract

After John Winthrop, Jr., had been relieved of his responsibilities for the ironworks, he was free to pursue his dream of creating a utopian plantation in Connecticut. This is a complicated story, but it illustrates all the excellencies of Winthrop. He founded a flourishing town of New London. He established an iatrochemical practice that all the leading citizens of Connecticut used. He negotiated the difficult political situation with both the Colonial governments and the Native American tribes. And he practiced alchemy and industrial chemistry. It is no real surprise that he was elected Governor of Connecticut without running for office. One of his favorite medicines was based on antimony. The chemistry of this element is described. Another important chemical was saltpeter, and Winthrop manufactured it as well.