English Philosopher, Pennsylvania's Founder: William Penn

Pennsylvania’s Founder: William Penn

William Penn was an English philosopher, entrepreneur, and he had many other occupations. Penn’s most important title was the founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His many accomplishments include writing “No Cross, No Crown,” and colonizing Pennsylvania. Penn also had an unique life full of both hardships and delights.

Penn was born on October 14, 1644, near the Tower of London. His father was Captain William Penn, who later became Rear Admiral William Penn. His mother was Margaret Jasper, who was the daughter of a merchant of Rotterdam and Ireland.

According to Historic World Leaders, during a smallpox attack, Penn lost all of his hair and was forced to wear a wig for the rest of his life.

He was much smarter than most of his classmates, and he took part in public debates and wrote pamphlets at his own expense. Penn later rebelled against the school’s strict religious rules and was expelled.
The Penn family’s next-door neighbor on Tower Hill was the diarist Samuel Pepys, who noted in his journal the Admiral Penn was, “‘...

a merry fellow and pretty good-natured and sings bawdy songs’” (Hudson). In 1666 King Charles II returned Macroom Castle to its original owner. He gave William's father a larger estate and Shangarry Castle outside the city of Cork in Ireland. That fall William travelled to Ireland to manage his father's estate. On September 16, 1670, Admiral Penn died; he forgave his son for all of his "eccentricities." According to Historic World Leaders, Penn’s father paid all of his fines, and commended him on his deathbed to the Duke of

York.
At the age of thirteen, Penn was so moved by the Quaker Thomas Loe, he converted to Quakerism. As stated in The Encyclopedia of World Biography, “His conversion was inspired by simple piety of the Quakers and the need to provide relief for victims of persecution.” Much to Sir William's displeasure, his son was now a full-fledged Quaker in creed, costume, and speech. While pleading for religious toleration, Penn started to preach Quaker doctrine. His marriage in 1672 to Gulielma Maria Springett, of a well known Quaker family, completed his religious commitment.
Charles II granted Penn’s wish for a charter to America. Religious persecution and colonization went hand in hand as the Quakers looked to America for a haven. Penn sought to name his province New Wales or Sylvania. Charles II, in approving the request in 1681, insisted on naming it "Pennsylvania” (Historic World Leaders). This was done, not to honor young William, but to honor the late admiral.
An immediate concern for Penn was Pennsylvania’s borders, especially those with Maryland. Due to issues in Penn's charter, an area along the southern border, to include Philadelphia, was claimed by Lord Baltimore. Lord Baltimore was the proprietor of Maryland. He disagreed with the boundaries set by Penn’s charter. As noted in Marty Figley’s book. Who Was William Penn? Penn further angered Lord Baltimore by writing to Maryland planters telling them they no longer had to pay taxes to Maryland (28).
After the death of his first wife in 1694, Penn married Hannah Callowhill in 1696. Figley explains that after the Glorious Revolution in England, Penn and his family went to live in Pennsylvania. Arriving in 1699, he reestablished friendly contacts with the Indians and worked hard to heal a religious schism among the Quakers. Penn’s heir, William, Jr., was not well liked by the Quaker community. He was seen as a symbolic sign of ending; this is probably due to his immoral lifestyle (Encyclopedia of World Biography).
Penn returned to England in 1701, to fight Parliament against ending proprietary grants. He never saw Pennsylvania again. At the age of 63, Penn was sent to a debtors’ prison. Despite imprisonment and financial ruin, Penn worked tirelessly to establish the principle of religious freedom in both his homeland and in America. Despite the threat of life imprisonment, Penn's tough spirit continued. He spent his time there writing a rough draft of “No Cross, No Crown,” one of his most famous works. He almost sold Pennsylvania back to England in 1712. This never took place because he suffered a stroke. He died at Ruscombe, Berkshire, England, on July 30, 1718. Prior to his death in 1718 at the age of 73, once again, Penn attempted to sell Pennsylvania back to England, hoping to gain a small amount of financial security for his six surviving children (Figley 39-40).
Probably because of William’s influence, in March of 1866, James II pardoned all religious prisoners.

More than thirteen hundred Quakers were released from prison. William’s “holy experiment” achieved much of what he dreamed and more (Figley 40). Immigrants with different religious beliefs- from all parts of Europe- found a welcoming home in Pennsylvania.

Born into the ruling class, he embraced egalitarianism. He lived in style and in debt while claiming to be in search of the simple life. According to Peter Thompson’s article, "William Penn," “Penn devoted more intellectual energy to understanding the role of colonies and devising equitable frames of government for them than any other colonial leader” (The English Historical Review). In 1984, more than 300 years after the founding of Pennsylvania, the United States Congress posthumously granted Penn U.S.

citizenship.