FIRMIN, Giles, author, born in Suffolk County, England, in 1615; died in Ridgwell, Essex, England, in April 1697. He entered Cambridge University in 1629, but left before taking his degree. In 1632 he came to New England in company with John Wilson, but returned to England before October 1633. In 1637 he again crossed the sea, and was employed, with John Higginson, to take notes of the proceedings of the synod in that year. He settled at Ipswich, where he practiced medicine. He married the daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Ward, and was clerk of the writs at Ipswich in 1641'2. He sailed for England in 1644, but was wrecked off the coast of Spain, and did not reach his destination till the following summer. In 1646 he lived at Colchester, Essex, and in 1651 was settled as pastor at Shalford. He was dismissed by the congregation there in 1662, and afterward practiced medicine and preached at Ridgwell. He was the author of many published sermons and theological treatises. His most important work was "The Real Christian" (1670), several times reprint ed in England and once in Boston, Massachusetts. See a memoir by John W. Dean (Boston, 1866).