from http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/glikeness/bradsimo.html

Royal Governor Simon Bradstreet (1679-1686, 1689-1692). Bradstreet (1603-1697) was born at Lincolnshire, England and was a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge (1620). He came to New England in 1630 and was assistant in the Massachusetts Bay Company for forty-nine years (1630-1679). He also served as secretary to the Company (1630-1636).

In 1634 Bradstreet was sent with four others to negotiate with the colonies of Plymouth, New Haven and Connecticut about the possible formation of the New England Confederation. When the Confederation was formed Bradstreet was one of two Massachusetts representatives to the organization for thirty-three years.

After the restoration of the English monarchy, in 1660, Bradstreet went to England and succeeded in having King Charles II confirm the Massachusetts charter. He twice served as Royal Governor of Massachusetts (1679-1686, 1689-92). [The years 1686-1688 were spent trying to fight off King James II's efforts to cancel the colony's charter. King James appointed New York's Governor Andros to carry out this work.]