The Mayflower, literally "flower of May," is one of the most famous ships in the world. It went down in history for transporting the Pilgrims from Plymouth (England) to Cape Cod Bay (Massachusetts) in 1620.
During the religious repression of Queen Elizabeth I of England, two major sects formed: the Puritans and the Separatists. It was the latter who made up the largest contingent of the Mayflower, which under the reign of James I, set sail from Plymouth on September 6, 1620, with 102 men, women, and children, to establish permanent settlements in America.