Biography of William Penn

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William Penn, an English entrepreneur, had an unforeseen impact on the history of the United States of America. In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, Penn was already a champion for democracy, religious freedom, and anti-slavery movements. Through his good relations both the nobility of England, and the Indians of Pennsylvania, Penn was able to secure an entire state for many years to come. Credited with establishing the city of Philadelphia, name after his ideal of ‘brotherly love’, William Penn left a lasting impression on the United States of America. He was one of the first to propose a unification of the American English colonies into one State. Though he is not often remembered today, Penn is often honored as a man ahead of his time. French philosopher Voltaire credited many times, saying:
"William Penn might, with reason, boast of having brought down upon earth the Golden Age, which in all probability, never had any real existence but in his dominions. "
- (Powell, Jim, William Penn, America's First Great Champion for Liberty and Peace)
William Penn was born in 1644 in England. He was the son of a famed naval commander, Admiral Sir William Penn Sr. When he was very young, Penn caught smallpox, which resulted in him being bald from a very young age. His parents were prompted by the disease to move to the countryside. He recovered favorably, and soon found a love for horticulture in the local farms. The family was a neighbor to the famed diarist Samuel Pepys, who allegedly attempted to seduce Penn’s mother. Penn was educated at Chigwell School, where he absorbed many Puritan values, though he opposed the Puritan ideals in his later life. After a failed campaign in the Caribbean, Penn’s father was exiled to their lands in Irel...

... middle of paper ...

...ter returning from a trip to England, however, Penn found that a Quaker had been embezzling money. After a brief argument and difficulty, the problem was settled.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, had changed drastically. It was considered to be one of the greatest cities in the world, with Quaker grammar schools open to all citizens. Though he did not promote abolition, slaves in Pennsylvania were required to be well treated. After many advances in culture and religion, Penn died with no money to his name in Ruscombe, England. His wife remained the proprietor of the colony after his death.

Bibliography

"William Penn." Wikipedia.com. Wikipedia, n.d. Web.
Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2013
Powell, Jim. "William Penn." Quaker.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"William Penn." World Encyclopedia.org. N.p., 10 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2013

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