William Penn (1644 – 1718) was an English writer, Quaker leader, and the founder of Pennsylvania. A strong advocate for religious freedom and democracy, he established a colony that became a model for religious tolerance and self-governance in colonial America.
Born in London to Admiral Sir William Penn, he was raised in privilege but defied expectations by joining the Quakers, a religious group persecuted for their beliefs. His writings, including No Cross, No Crown (1669), emphasized spiritual devotion over material wealth. Penn was imprisoned multiple times for his faith but continued advocating for religious liberty.
In 1681, King Charles II granted Penn a vast territory in North America to settle a debt owed to his father. He envisioned Pennsylvania as a haven for religious minorities and drafted its Frame of Government, promoting democratic principles that later influenced the U.S. Constitution. Arriving in 1682, he founded Philadelphia and negotiated peaceful treaties with the Lenape people, ensuring fair land agreements.
Penn’s later years were troubled by financial struggles and political challenges. He returned to England in 1701, where he suffered a stroke that left him incapacitated. He died in 1718, but his legacy endures in Pennsylvania’s founding ideals and in the broader movement for religious tolerance.