It’s a coastal town with a South End, a Fens, a Boston College, and even a place called Cheers – as you might have guessed, it’s called Boston…but it’s 3,000 miles away from the one in Massachusetts! The Partnership of Historic Bostons was formed to recognize the unique relationship between Boston and its English namesake city. Join visiting dignitaries from Boston, England, for a panel discussion about our “parent” town and its challenges through the years. We’ll begin 400 years ago with the Great Migration of 1618-1640 and continue through to the intricacies of the upcoming Brexit. Image: From speaker's presentation
Robert J. Allison is a professor of History at Suffolk University and a lecturer at the Harvard Extension School. He is president of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts and chair of Revolution 250. His books include 'The Crescent Obscured: The United States and the Muslim World', 1776-1815, 'Stephen Decatur, American Naval Hero', 1779-1820, 'A Short History of Boston, and Revolutionary Sites of Greater Boston'.
Councilor Alison Austin represents the Ward of St. Thomas’ and has served the Borough of Boston since March 2007 during which time she also served as mayor. Her current term of office also ends February 2019. Ms. Austin also serves as a Governor of the Boston Grammar School Foundation. The Boston Grammar school served as a model for the Boston Latin School in Boston, MA.
Councilor Richard Austin represents the Parish of Wyberton and has served the Borough of Boston since March 2007 during which time he also served as mayor.
Barry Cotton is a PHB Trustee and direct descendent of Rev. John Cotton. Barry is a historian and is currently working on three books: a biography of Rev. John Cotton, a work titled: TALES OF TWO BOSTONS: How Boston UK Impacted the Founding of Boston USA, and one called COME O COME EMMANUEL: How Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, Helped Shape 17th century New England.
Eve LaPlante's award-winning *Salem Witch Judge (HarperOne, 2007, 2008)* follows *the Boston Globe bestseller American Jezebel (HarperOne, 2004, 2005)* and *Seized (HarperCollins, 1993, 2000)*. She contributed to the essay collection *Why I'm Still Married (Penguin, 2006, 2007)* and has written for *The Atlantic and The New York Times*.
Neil Wright was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, and is a historian of that town. Since 1964 he has written many books and articles about the history of that Boston and the wider history of Lincolnshire, which is the second largest county in England. On three occasions he has been Chairman of the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, which was founded in the 1840s. He is currently writing a book on Boston, Lincolnshire, in the Georgian period, from 1766 to 1852.