Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/756

{|width="100%" discharging his private duties with benevolence during the remainder of his life. His residence, which is shown in the picture, was destroyed before 1861.  PENN, William, founder of Pennsylvania, b. in London, England, 14 Oct., 1644; d. in Ruscombe, Berkshire, 30 July, 1718. He was descended from an ancient family that had lived in Buckinghamshire for many generations. A branch settled in Wiltshire, near Minety, and from this was descended Admiral William Penn, the father of the founder, who was born in Bristol in 1621. He joined a vessel early in life under his father's command, and became a captain before he was twenty years of age. In 1643 he married Margaret Jasper, daughter of a rich merchant of Rotterdam, and then settled in London. After a year of fashionable life he returned to active service, and was given command of the “Fellowship.” With unusual rapidity he attained the ranks of rear-admiral and vice-admiral of Ireland, and in 1652 he was vice-admiral of England. He served as general in the first Dutch war, and in 1664 he was chosen great captain-commander under the Duke of York, afterward James II., and was knighted. He died at his home in Wanstead, Essex, on 16 Sept., 1670. (See “Memorials of the Professional Life of Admiral Sir William Penn,” by Granville Penn, London, 1833.) His son, William, was born in London just prior to the admiral's departure for the Irish seas; indeed, he had already started down the Thames when the news of his son's birth reached him, and he hastily left his vessel and returned home. The family resided in Essex during the father's absence, and from his mother the boy acquired his strong religious faith. He was sent to a free grammar-school in Chigwell, thence in 1656 to a private school on Tower street, London, and during the residence of the family in Ireland he studied under a private tutor. Three years later he went to Christ church college, Oxford, where among his companions were Robert Spencer and John Locke. He soon acquired reputation as a hard student, a skilful oarsman, and an adventurous sportsman. His reading at this time was solid and extensive, and his acquisition of knowledge was assisted by an exceptional memory. He had an excellent knowledge of history and theology, had read the chief writers of Greece and Italy in their native tongues, and possessed a thorough knowledge of French, German, Dutch, and Italian. After the restoration of the Stuarts, Thomas Loe, a follower of George Fox (q. v.), began to preach in Oxford against the threatened restoration of what he considered popish usages, such as the wearing of gowns, and soon numbered William Penn among his followers. Penn's absence from service was noticed, and with others he was brought up before the college authorities and fined. This roused the young non-conformists to open rebellion. They paraded the streets, refused to wear the gown, and tore away the vestment from those that did so. In all of these actions Penn was conspicuous, and he was expelled from the university. His father, seriously offended, at first showed great severity, but soon relented, and sent Penn to France, where he was presented to Louis XIV., and became a frequent and welcome guest at court. He mingled with the fashionable world, and bid fair to forget his Quaker fancies. In order to complete his education he placed himself under the tuition of Moses Amyrault, one of the ablest scholars of France and a member of the Reformed church. He remained at Saumur, and then travelled through France and Italy with Lord Robert Spencer, also meeting Algernon Sidney, to whom he became greatly attached. In 1664 he was recalled to England by his father, and taken to court, where he impressed the king by his behavior, and became a general favorite. His name was entered as a law-student at Lincoln's Inn, and for a time he also served on his father's staff, and was sent with despatches from the fleet to the king. In 1665 the plague appeared in London, and the fear of death revived the religious fervor of the young law-student.  He was sent to Ireland to superintend two estates recently granted to his father in the County Cork, and arrived in Dublin in the autumn of 1665 with letters to the Duke of Ormond, who was then viceroy. He was warmly received and gave himself up entirely to pleasure. During the insurrection of soldiers at Carrickfergus he served with credit as aide to Lord Arran, who was charged with the subjection of the mutineers, and he became so interested that he caused his portrait to be painted in armor in memory of the experience. The vignette shows him in this costume and is of value, being the only known likeness of him that was painted during his lifetime. He now desired to join the army, and it was proposed to his father that he should have command of a company of foot; but this the admiral refused. Penn then turned his attention to the family interests, and secured possession of Shangarry castle, and estate for his father. While managing the newly acquired property, he heard by accident that his old Oxford acquaintance, Thomas Loe, was about to preach in Cork. Curiosity led him to the place of worship, and after listening to the sermon, unable to withstand its influence, he accepted the tenets of Quakerism. He then attended the meetings with regularity, and on 3 Sept., 1667, was made prisoner with the entire congregation and taken before the mayor of Cork on a charge of riot. The magistrate offered to release him, provided he would promise to keep the peace; but he refused, and was sent to jail. He wrote to the lord-president of Munster, giving an account of his arrest and detention, and an order was issued for his immediate discharge. He returned to London still wearing the dress that belonged to his rank, absolutely declining, however, to remove his hat in the presence of his social superiors. After remonstrating with his son the admiral expressed his willingness to tolerate everything, provided that he would uncover himself in the presence of his father, the king, and the Duke of York. Asking time for the consideration of this proposition, Penn retired to his room, and, after an hour of prayer and meditation, returned to his father with the declaration that such a course would be impossible. He persisted in his determination; the admiral at last gave way, and Penn became completely identified with the Quakers in dress and conduct as well as belief. This difference with his father was not so serious on the present occasion as when he was sent down from Oxford in 1661, when it is said that the admiral turned him out of doors, relenting, however, shortly after.
 * 712
 * align="center"|PENN
 * align="center" width="50%"|PENN
 * }  of sufficient property, was employed in

Meanwhile he preached and wrote in favor of his belief, publishing “Truth Exalted, in a short but sure Testimony against all those religious Faiths and Worships that have been formed and followed in the darkness of Apostasy; and for that Glorious Light which is now risen and shines forth in the Life and Doctrine of the despised Quakers as the alone good old way of Life and Salvation. Presented to Princes, Priests, and People, that they may repent, believe, and obey. By William Penn, whom Divine Love constrains in an holy contempt