William Bradford (Plymouth soldier)

He succeeded newly elected Governor Josiah Winslow who held the position since it was established in 1658.

He held the rank of major in the militia and was the commander of the military forces of Plymouth Colony during the King Philip's War.

[1] He commanded the Plymouth Regiment, consisting of two companies, at the Great Swamp Fight, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, on 19 December 1675.

During the battle, his eye was wounded and he was hit by a musket ball which he carried in his body to his grave.

Bradford was suspended from office during the governorship of Sir Edmund Andros from 20 December 1686 to 18 April 1689.