From which sea-port on the southern coast of Britain did the Mayflower set sail for the New World in 1620, and in which New World location did she land?

The iconic journey of the Mayflower in 1620, carrying the Pilgrims to the New World, began with a somewhat convoluted start from England's southern coast. The ship initially set sail from Southampton, accompanied by a smaller vessel called the Speedwell. The plan was for both ships to transport the Separatists and other colonists across the Atlantic. However, the Speedwell proved unseaworthy, developing leaks that forced the ships to return to port twice. After these setbacks, the Speedwell was abandoned, and some of its passengers and cargo were transferred to the Mayflower. Consequently, the Mayflower embarked on its historic voyage alone from Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620.

After a challenging 66-day voyage across the Atlantic, the Pilgrims first sighted land on November 19, 1620, which was present-day Cape Cod. They anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor, at the tip of Cape Cod, on November 21, 1620. While exploring this new territory, and before establishing a permanent settlement, the male passengers famously drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact, a foundational document for self-governance, aboard the ship.

Though their initial patent was for land further south in the Virginia Colony, storms pushed them off course. After further exploration of the Cape Cod area, the Pilgrims eventually decided on a more suitable location for their colony. They moved the Mayflower to Plymouth Harbor, establishing what would become the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. This location became the site of their enduring settlement, a pivotal moment in American history.