William Penn

Timeline

1. 1644–1681London · LondonBorn into a naval officer's family, he converted to Quakerism after studying at Oxford, was repeatedly imprisoned for publishing and preaching, became a Quaker political apologist and advocate of religious freedom, and handled his father's American land debts.
2. 1681–1684Philadelphia · United StatesGranted the Pennsylvania charter by Charles II to settle royal debts, he personally traveled to America to lay out Philadelphia, promulgated the Frame of Government charter, implemented religious tolerance and representative institutions, and concluded a peace agreement with the Lenape chief Tammany.
3. 1684–1718London · LondonAfter returning to England he long campaigned for colonial self-government and boundary disputes, experienced rising and falling fortunes and financial difficulties after the Glorious Revolution, but still influenced Pennsylvania's governance through letters and agents until his death.