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Birth
William Penn was born on October 14, 1644 in London, England. Also, he was baptized at All Hallows Church, London. -
Childhood
He attended Chigwell Grammar School, and later moved to Macroom, Castle Ireland because of the political climate. Also, during the time, the English Civil War was going on and Penn heard his first Quaker preacher, Thomas Lee. -
College
He enters the Christ Church College in Oxford, but refused to follow the church’s religious practices. It resulted in him getting expelled only after two years. -
Devastation
He studied law at one of London’s Inns of Court, Lincoln’s Inn. During the 1660’s, there was a huge amount of devastating events that had made a huge impact on Penn. The Great Plague and the Great Fire of England killed and burned the population of thousands. It influenced the ways Penn laid out the city of Philadelphia. -
Becoming a Quaker
Penn joins the group of the Society of Friends at the age of 22. He makes a life changing decision by joining the group of the Quakers, which put his social position, political connections, and financial issues in jeopardy. This had shocked many, considering his family were upperclassmen. Penn said he would defend his faith for the rest of his life. -
Jailed
He was jailed and charged by the Tower of London because he wrote Sandy Foundation Shaken, which questioned the doctrine of the trinity. -
New Lifestyle
Penn wrote No Cross, No Crown, rejecting the English class system and promoting a plain lifestyle. -
Imprisoned
Penn was arrested after preaching on the streets with Quaker William, and was even imprisoned for 3 days without food or water. -
Quaker Meeting
He is arrested again for speaking at Quaker meeting with Thomas Rudyard and he is imprisoned at Newgate until August, this time without benefit of a jury trial. -
Marriage
He married fellow Quaker and to-be wife, Gulielma Springett. -
Founding of Pennsylvania!
Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania and allows a haven for religious freedom to others. Many Europeans found this place to be called their home. -
Off to the New World
King Charles II grants him a large amount of land to repay him for the debt of Penn’s father. He used the land to form a place in the New World where persecuted Quakers could come for refuge. -
Friendships
Penn gets kind indulgence from the king, James II for John Locke and John Trenchard. With this event, he becomes known as an influential friend of the king. -
Accused
James II was overthrown, so Mary and Penn take the throne. Penn was accused of reason for his loyalty to bury King James II. Later, he was placed in the Tower of London for several weeks, but was cleared of all charges. -
What to Expect?
He agreed to provide some troops to the king, and is given back the proprietorship of Pennsylvania. When he returns home, his wife Guilielma dies, and is affected greatly. -
Marriage
Penn married Hannah Callowhill. He was 52, and she was 26, also having seven children. -
Preaching to Ireland
He travels to Ireland with his son William and Thomas Story, and preaches the Quaker doctrine to the people. -
Charter of Privileges
Penn drafts the Charter of Privileges before leaving England to ensure the control of the colony. The Charter of Privileges laid out the political organization of the colony , guranteed rights for colonists, set up procedures, ect. -
Foreclosed
The Fords (Quakers of Bristol) foreclose a loan to Penn and claim Pennsylvania. -
Court Battle
Penn’s poor management of Irish estates led him in debtor’s prison for several months, and later resulted in a six year court battle with the former steward in England. -
Death
He dies at the age of 74 due to strokes and illness; he was buried at Jordan’s Meetinghouse in Buckinghamshire with Gulielma.
