William Penn Facts Find Out More About The English Writer

Besides being an English writer and a proponent for religious freedom, William Penn (October 14, 1644 - July 30, 1718) founded the Pennsylvania colony for the Quaker Community.He set up the North American Colony of England called the Province of Pennsylvania after receiving it in the form of a land grant by Charles II of England in 1681. A member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), William Penn also lent a helping hand in the planning and development of Philadelphia.Why was William granted such a vast land based on his religious beliefs? It’s because King Charles II owed it to William’s father, Sir William Penn, an admiral and politician. To pay this debt, King Charles II conferred upon William an enormous section of his North American Land Holdings along the North Atlantic Ocean coast. He has also authored several books, mostly centered around religion and in regards to Primitive Christianity.He was held captive as a prisoner in the Tower of London for his faith. While in prison, he wrote books such as - ‘No Cross, No Crown’ - which today is a Christian Classic of theological literature. He fought for religious freedom.After reading about the religious beliefs of ‘William Penn and his contribution to setting up the Quaker colony of Pennsylvania,’ also check out William Faulkner facts and William Morris facts.Fun Facts About William PennGet ready for some fun and interesting facts about William Penn, his writings, religion, family, and more.William Penn’s father, Admiral Sir William Penn (1621-1670), was a prominent and famed national hero. Initially, Sir William backed the anti-monarchical commonwealth government that replaced the beheaded former King Charles I in 1649. Eventually, when people believed that this was no more than an experiment that would fail, Sir Penn helped Charles II, an exiled king’s son, claim the throne in 1660. With this move, Admiral Penn won the royal family’s support and was appointed as a close advisor to James, Charles’ brother, who was the Duke of York and also ran the English Navy.Willam Penn studied in Oxford’s Christ Church College in 1660. The reason for this was his rebellion against the institute’s religious codes. William defied them, from dress code, which required them to wear surplices to not attending the compulsory Anglican Service. This was because he had different religious views and adapted to the Quaker community.Due to his expulsion from Oxford University, his father possibly beat William for his behavior. It all started when, in 1655, Thomas Loe, a Quaker, was invited to Penn’s residence where he preached his faith and did it so well that William was in tears, and from there on, he started sympathizing with the Quaker movement. Further, Penn met the college’s ex-dean, John Owen, who now took private classes at his home. The ex-dean told Penn that he was debarred from the college because he raised his voice in favor of religious tolerance. Next, William started attending the ex-dean’s classes, where he realized the horrendous religious policy of Oxford University.Hannah was William’s second wife. Around 50 years before the colonies declared their Independence, Willam Penn passed away, who spent most of his days in England. However, at times, he is counted among the founding fathers of America. Penn was also conferred with several compliments from esteemed personalities such as Thomas Jefferson, who said, ’the greatest law-giver the world has ever produced.’ Even his wife, Hannah, was loved and admired. On November 28, 1984, the event took place when this couple was named honorary citizens of the United States. They are among only six other people to have received this honor.Facts About William Penn’s WritingsWilliam was a famed author and spoke his heart out through his writing. While his text till today is read, it also got him into some trouble. Let us explore all of it.Writing is a form of rebellion for those whose voices are shut and go unheard. William was imprisoned in 1668 for his thoughts that he penned down on a widely circulated pamphlet designated ‘The Sandy Foundation Shaken.’ In this troublesome paper, he contradicted the widespread belief that the Holy Trinity embodied ’three separate persons,’ considered a crime at the time, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Even behind bars, Penn William Penn wrote two more treatises, namely, Innocency With Her Open Face and No Cross, No Crown.If seen clearly, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony only spent less than four years here. He did not set foot outside London in 1684 until 1699. In 1693, he published his world titled ‘Essay Towards the Present and Future of Europe by the Establishment of a European Parliament,’ which was a retaliation to the ever-rising unrest and war in the nation.Before European Nations existed, some 300 years before, to be more precise, William Penn clamored for an international body made of 90 members with the power to vote, representing the prominent and minor European nations. Unfortunately, there was no significant response to his essay.Facts About William Penn’s Childhood Let’s dive into more compelling facts about Admiral William Penn’s son, William Penn.William Penn was involved in politics somehow or another, and getting involved in this world has its share of consequences. Being associated with James II, he faced several hurdles. James II was a Catholic, but most of England’s people were not and nor were his predecessors. But the King’s rivals tolerated him because of his daughter Mary, his successor and a Protestant.Soon, with the birth of his son in 1688, things took a turn, and not for good. People assumed his son to be raised as a Catholic, so they went to Mary’s husband, Prince William of Orange. In November that month, Williams’ forces raged to harm James II and take his throne, scared James II ran for his life to France, taking his infant with him.Mary became a Queen in the upcoming year, and William became King. Penn was imprisoned a couple of times in the coming years and once because of the letter James II sent him, but he saved his life with the help of his connections.But who was her first wife? His first wife, a quaker, Guelielma Springett, gave Penn their eight children. She died in 1694, and two years later, Penn married again to a woman half her age, Hannah Gallowhill, aged 26. They moved to Pennsylvania in 1699, when Hannah was pregnant with their first child.But after about two years, in 1701, William Penn returned to England due to financial issues, and Hannah went with him. In 1712, Penn had lost the capacity to govern Pennsylvania from England due to his three paralytic strokes, so Hannah stepped up to take charge. Eight years after Williams Penn’s death on July 30, 1718, Hannah governed Pennsylvania.Young Penn attended Chigwell Academy located near Wanstead, England, at age 11. In 1656, when the family shifted to Ireland, Penn continued his education via private tutoring.Facts About William Penn’s Religious ViewsReligion played a vital role in those times and has great political significance. Anyone who opposed the general norms landed in deep trouble.Upon getting thrown out of Oxford, William started studying theology at a college in France called College of Saumur, followed by a law school named Lincoln’s Inn. Next, William was asked by his father to superintend their estates, and this is where William met Thomas Loe again. With time, William started attending Quaker meetings.He was first imprisoned in September 1667, when William was attending an assembly at Cork, Ireland and the police suspected them of arousing religious unrest. Interestingly, Williams was offered to be released due to his high social position, but he refused to say he would be punished the same way as his fellow mates. A year later, he officially became one of the Quakers.The colonial province of Pennsylvania was envisioned as a safe place that would respect all religions, and no discrimination would be made against religious minorities. William called this plan of action a ‘Holy experiment.‘Also, to encourage Pennsylvania’s in buying its real estate, he handed out pamphlets in several languages, including English, French, Dutch, and German, which embraced the eminence of the place. Under William, the place did not have any official church.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for William Penn Facts: Find Out More About The English Writer, then why not take a look at William Gilbert facts or William Mckinley facts?

Besides being an English writer and a proponent for religious freedom, William Penn (October 14, 1644 - July 30, 1718) founded the Pennsylvania colony for the Quaker Community.