Roger Williams was a 17th-century Puritan minister and theologian. He founded Providence Plantations, which later became the US state of Rhode Island. He advocated for fair dealings with Native Americans and believed in religious freedom. He disapproved of perpetual chattel slavery. After being expelled by the Puritan leaders, he founded the First Baptist Church in America.
![Jean-Baptiste Colbert Jean-Baptiste Colbert](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jean-baptiste-colbert-1.jpg)
Born into a merchant family in France, Jean-Baptiste Colbert grew up to hold various administrative posts. Patronized by Cardinal Mazarin, he became affluent and later became one of the most efficient administrators during the regime of Louis XIV. He also established the French merchant navy.
![Izaak Walton Izaak Walton](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/izaak-walton-1.jpg)
One of the greatest biographers of the 17th century, Izaak Walton was also a lover of fishing and had penned one of the most detailed treatises on fishing, The Compleat Angler. His notable works also include his biographies on John Donne and Henry Wotton. He was also a staunch Royalist.
![William Russell, Lord Russell William Russell, Lord Russell](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/william-russell-lord-russell-1.jpg)
![Guarino Guarini Guarino Guarini](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/guarino-guarini-59366-1.jpg)
![Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/nicolaes-pietersz-berchem-1.jpg)
![Louis César, Count of Vexin Louis César, Count of Vexin](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/louis-csar-count-of-vexin-1.jpg)
![John Oldham John Oldham](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-oldham-1.jpg)
![Algernon Sidney Algernon Sidney](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/algernon-sidney-665-1.jpg)
![Turhan Sultan Turhan Sultan](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/turhan-sultan-1.jpg)
![Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/anthony-ashley-cooper-1st-earl-of-1.jpg)
![Afonso VI of Portugal Afonso VI of Portugal](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/afonso-vi-of-portugal-54241-1.jpg)
![John Owen John Owen](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-owen.jpg)
English Puritan minister John Owen was a strong advocate of Congregationalism and a close associate of Oliver Cromwell. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. A proponent of Calvinism, or Reformed Theology, he also penned works on theological history and other religious topics.
![Thomas Killigrew Thomas Killigrew](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/thomas-killigrew-1.jpg)
![Arthur Capel, 1st earl of Essex Arthur Capel, 1st earl of Essex](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/arthur-capel-1st-earl-of-essex-1.jpg)
![George Ravenscroft George Ravenscroft](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/no-profile-img.jpg)
![Juraj Križanić Juraj Križanić](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/no-profile-img.jpg)
![Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/randal-macdonnell-1st-marquess-of-antrim-1.jpg)
![William Scroggs William Scroggs](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/william-scroggs-1.jpg)
![Robert Morison Robert Morison](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/robert-morison-1.jpg)
![Joseph Jenckes Sr. Joseph Jenckes Sr.](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joseph-jenckes-sr--1.jpg)
![Charles Hart Charles Hart](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/charles-hart-1.jpg)