Miles Standish

Miles Standish (c. 1584 - October 3, 1656), was an English-born professional soldier hired by the Pilgrims as military advisor for Plymouth colony. Arriving on the Mayflower, he worked on colonial defense. Later, he served as Plymouth's representative in England, and served as assistant to the governor and as the colony's treasurer. He was also one of the founders of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1632. He is best remembered through Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's The Courtship of Miles Standish. On February 17, 1621 he was appointed the first commander of Plymouth colony.