Increase Mather

The Reverend Increase Mather
Portrait, 1680

6th President of Harvard College
In office June 27, 1692 – September 6, 1701 Rector: July 23, 1686 – June 27, 1692 Acting: June 11, 1685 – July 23, 1686
Preceded by	John Rogers
Succeeded by	Samuel Willard (acting)

Personal details
Born	June 21, 1639 Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British America
Died	August 23, 1723 (aged 84) Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Spouse(s)	Maria Cotton (m. 1662; died 1714) Ann Cotton (m. 1715)
Children	10, including Cotton
Education	Harvard College (AB) Trinity College Dublin (MA)
Occupation	Minister and author
Signature

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Increase Mather (/ˈmæðər/; June 21, 1639^[1] – August 23, 1723) was a New England Puritan clergyman who served as the sixth president of Harvard College from 1685 to 1701.^[2] During his tenure, which coincided with the notorious Salem witch trials, he was influential in the administration of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

^ Mather 1961.
^ Mather 1961, p. 351, "From my first being chosen president of the College (1681) to my resigning my Relation to that society (1701) was full 20 years."