Who was William Penn? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In October

Died At Age: 73

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Gulielma Maria Springett, Hannah Callowhill

father: Admiral Sir William Penn

mother: Margaret Jasper

children: John Penn, Richard Penn Sr., Thomas Penn, William Penn Jr.

British Men The University of Oxford

Died on: July 30, 1718

place of death: Ruscombe, Berkshire, England

Notable Alumni: Christ Church, Chigwell School

City: Bristol, England

Founder/Co-Founder: Province of Pennsylvania

More Facts

education: The University of Oxford, Christ Church, Chigwell School, Christ Church, Oxford

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Where did William Penn establish a colony in America?

William Penn established the colony of Pennsylvania in America.
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What is the significance of the Charter of Privileges in relation to William Penn?

The Charter of Privileges granted by William Penn in 1701 established a framework for self-government in Pennsylvania and provided for religious freedom and fair treatment of Native Americans.
3

How did William Penn promote religious tolerance in Pennsylvania?

William Penn promoted religious tolerance in Pennsylvania by welcoming various religious groups to settle in the colony and granting them the freedom to practice their faith without persecution.
4

What role did William Penn play in the founding of Philadelphia?

William Penn played a significant role in the founding of Philadelphia by designing the city layout, promoting equality and religious freedom, and establishing a government based on democratic principles.
5

How did William Penn's Quaker beliefs influence his actions as a colonial leader?

William Penn's Quaker beliefs influenced his actions as a colonial leader by guiding his decisions to promote peace, equality, and justice among all people, including Native Americans and settlers of diverse backgrounds.

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Childhood & Early Life

William Penn was born on October 14, 1644, to English Admiral, Sir William Penn and Margaret Jasper, the daughter of a rich Dutch merchant.

He studied at Chigwell School and in 1656 he entered a private school on Tower Street, London. While he lived in Ireland, he was educated by private tutors.

In 1660, he enrolled at Christ Church, Oxford as a scholar and became well-versed in history and theology. He became acquainted with the Society of Friends or Quakers and was later expelled from the University as a result of supporting the group’s activities.

He was then privately tutored by Moses Amyrault, a renowned French scholar and a member of the Reformed church.

In the autumn of 1664, he studied for a year at the Huguenot Academy and later traveled to France and Italy.

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Career

In 1665, he decided to practice law at Lincoln's Inn, Chancery Lane, London and the following year, he began his career a lawyer in Ireland.

He was sent to control a rebellion at Carrickfergus in 1667, after which he returned to London. The following year, while he was at Ireland, he became a Quaker and was arrested for attending a Quaker meeting at Cork. After his release, he returned to England.

He met George Fox, the founder of Quakers in 1669 and suffered the wrath of his father who vowed to disown him. He was arrested and imprisoned at the Tower of London for writing the pamphlet ‘The Sandy Foundation Shaken’.

After his release, he moved to Ireland and practiced law. With the influence of powerful friends including Lord Arran, he was successful in freeing the Quakers, who were imprisoned in Ireland.

In 1670, Penn’s father died and Penn inherited a sum of £1500 annually from his father’s estate.

In 1681, King Charles II signed the charter that stated Penn’s ownership of Pennsylvania in return for £16000, which he owed to Penn's father. Penn struck a cordial relationship with the Native Americans and paid them some amount to legally own the land.

He took charge of Pennsylvania as its Governor in 1682. Two years later, he returned to England to attend to legal disputes concerned with his properties and also because of the political unrest in England.

Philip Ford, his manager in charge of his properties in England, tricked him into transferring the ownership of Pennsylvania to him and signed him to pay rent for the same.

Penn became bankrupt and was unable to pay the rent. When Philip died in 1702, his wife Bridget ordered for Penn to be sentenced to debtor’s prison; however Penn was handed over his province when the case opened for a trial.

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He was financially burdened by the lifestyle of his sons and in 1712 he suffered from a series of strokes that eventually led to dementia.

Major Works

In 1668, William Penn authored a tract, ‘The Sandy Foundation Shaken’, which was a follow-up of his first pamphlet, ‘Truth Exalted’. This pamphlet criticized all religions except ‘Quakerism’ in harshly worded statements, which resulted in his imprisonment in the ‘Tower of London’. This is considered one of his major works because of his bold opinions and his theories on why he believed ‘Quakerism’ should prevail over all other religious institutions.

With his affluence and political power, he was able to establish a province to promote his Quaker belief in one of the colonies of England named Pennsylvania.

He implemented a “Frame of Government”, a democratic system offering freedom of religion, separation of powers, and fair trials by a panel of jury that became instrumental in the formation of the Constitution of the United States.

Personal Life & Legacy

He met Gulielma Maria Posthuma Springett, the step-daughter of Isaac Pennington, a Buckinghamshire Quaker in 1669 and married her in 1672 at King's Farm, Chorley Wood. The couple had three sons and five daughters.

In 1694 Gulielma Springett died and in 1696 at the age of 52, he married Hannah Callowhill, the 25-year old daughter of a Quaker Bristol merchant. He had eight children by this marriage.

He died on July 13, 1718, the age of 73, leaving the province of Pennsylvania under the possession of his second wife and her sons.

Facts About William Penn

William Penn was known for his progressive views on religious freedom, establishing Pennsylvania as a haven for religious minorities and promoting tolerance among different faiths.

Despite being born into wealth and privilege, Penn lived a simple lifestyle, often dressing plainly and valuing humility and modesty.

Penn was an early advocate for democracy and self-governance, implementing a constitution in Pennsylvania that provided for a representative government and individual rights.

In addition to his political pursuits, Penn was also a prolific writer, penning numerous essays and treatises on topics ranging from government to theology.

William Penn had a strong interest in Native American culture and sought to establish peaceful relationships with the indigenous peoples of Pennsylvania, negotiating fair treaties and respecting their land rights.

William Penn Biography

You wanted to know

Where did William Penn establish a colony in America?

What is the significance of the Charter of Privileges in relation to William Penn?

How did William Penn promote religious tolerance in Pennsylvania?

What role did William Penn play in the founding of Philadelphia?

How did William Penn's Quaker beliefs influence his actions as a colonial leader?