654. GEORGE DOWNING (1924-1684) Downing was a nephew of one of the Puritan fathers of Massachusetts Bay, Gov. John Winthrop. He was among Harvard College's earliest graduates, receiving his degree in 1642. After graduating, he went to England, where he became embroiled in the English civil wars, serving first Cromwell, and later, after the collapse of the Commonwealth, Charles II. In the early 1660s, he served as England's ambassador to Holland, and played a key role in engineering the British conquest of New Netherland in 1664, causing the Dutch to lose their foothold in North America. Manuscript D.S. "G. Downing", 1p. 13 1/2" x 2 1/2" on parchment, [n.p.], 1666. "G" a tad light, else very good. ---$150-200