What is Myles Standish?
{{Infobox military person |name= Myles Standish |image=Myles Standish.jpg |caption= This portrait, first published in 1885, was alleged to be a 1625 likeness of Standish, although its authenticity has never been proven |nickname= |rank= [[Captain (land)|Captain]] |branch= |serviceyears= |allegiance= [[England]]<br/>[[Plymouth Colony]] |birth_date=c. 1584 |death_date= October 3, 1656 (aged 72) |birth_place= Possibly [[Lancashire]], [[England]] |death_place= Duxbury, Massachusetts |signature=Standish signature.png }} '''Myles Standish''' ({{c.}}1584{{spaced ndash}} 1656) was an [[English people|English]] [[military]] officer who was selected to [[defend]] the [[Pilgrim]]s in the [[New World]]{{sfn|Philbrick|2006|pp=32-37}}{{sfn|Philbrick|2006|p=84}} He travelled on the [[Mayflower]] in 1620 and signed the [[Mayflower Compact]].{{sfn|Philbrick|2006|p=88}} Standish became a [[wikt:assistant|assistant]] [[governor]], and a [[treasurer]] of [[Plymouth Colony]]. == Early life == Standish's place of birth is uncertain.<ref name=Bangs>Bangs, [http://www.sail1620.org/history/35-biographies/51-myles-standish.html Myles Standish, Born Where?]</ref> In his [[Will (law)|will]] he mentions [[Lancashire]].<ref name=Bangs/> Nathaniel Morton, [[secretary]] of Plymouth Colony, wrote that Standish was born in Lancashire. Standish was a [[soldier]] and fought against the [[Spain|Spanish]] in the [[Eighty Years' War]].<ref name=Bangs/> Standish and his wife did not believe in the [[Church of England]] and in 1608 they moved to [[Leiden]] [[Netherlands]].<ref name=Bangs/><ref>Stratton, 18.</ref> After some years, they became concerned because their children were losing their English customs and [[culture]]. Since their religion was outlawed in England, they decided to travel to the [[New World]].{{sfn|Philbrick|2006|p=25}} There were many people in Leiden who did not believe in the Church of England and they also wanted to travel to the New World. They looked to [[employ]] someone who would [[protect]] them in the New World.{