Mather, Cotton (1663-1728) American writer and theologian. The son of
Increase Mather and the grandson of Richard Mather, Cotton entered
Harvard at the age of twelve and, like his father and grandfather
before him, went on to become a clergyman. Cotton Mather is often
regarded as the epitome of Puritan fanaticism; his reputation as an
egoist has outlasted his reputation as a scholar. He was a prolific
writer who wrote on a great number of subjects.
The Last Days of Increase Mather (1724) From "Memoirs of Remarkables in
the Life and the Death of the Ever-Memorable Dr. Increase Mather."
Increase Mather, known as the most capable member of a remarkable
family, was a well-known preacher who served for sixteen years as the
president of Harvard College. This is Cotton Mather's tribute to his
beloved father.
