The Mayflower, the ship that famously transported the Pilgrims to America in 1620, was led by the English. Specifically, it was a group of English Separatists, known as the Pilgrims, who sought religious freedom and embarked on the voyage from England to what is now known as Massachusetts, United States. The Mayflower played a significant role in early American history, as it brought the first permanent European settlers to the region, establishing the Plymouth Colony. Their arrival ultimately paved the way for further English colonization and greatly influenced the formation of the United States.