The Rhode Island colony was founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Williams was a Puritan minister who was banished from Massachusetts for his beliefs, including his support for religious tolerance and the separation of church and state. He established a settlement in what is now Providence, Rhode Island, and was joined by other dissenters who were seeking religious freedom. The colony was known for its commitment to religious toleration and democratic government, and it became a haven for Baptists, Quakers, and other religious minorities.