Penn, William (1644–1718)

English member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and founder of the American colony of Pennsylvania. Born in London, he joined the Society in 1667 and was imprisoned several times for his beliefs. In 1681 he obtained a grant of land in America (in settlement of a debt owed by King Charles II to his father) on which he established Pennsylvania as a refuge for persecuted Quakers.

Penn made religious tolerance a cornerstone of his administration of the colony. He maintained good relations with neighbouring colonies and with the American Indians in the area, but his utopian ideals were not successful for the most part.

In 1697 he presented a plan, never acted upon, for a union among the colonies. In 1701 he established, with his Charter of Privileges, a bicameral legislature as the government for Pennsylvania.

Penn, William (1621–1670)

English Parliamentary admiral and general-at-sea. He served under Robert Blake in the First Dutch War. In 1654 he was appointed general and commander-in-chief of the fleet designed to proceed against the Spaniards in the West Indies. He tried to atone for his failure to take Hispaniola by the capture of Jamaica from the Spaniards in May 1655, the inhabitants falling an easy prey to his ragamuffin army of 8,000 troops in 38 ships. Appointed naval commander-in-chief of Jamaica, he returned to England without leave and was imprisoned for a short term.

Penn was probably born in Bristol, England. He was the father of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. He entered into negotiation with the Royalists, and at the Restoration was knighted, and made a commissioner of the navy. In the Second Dutch War he had command at the battle of Lowestoft in 1665, but was not again employed on active service.