WHO WAS WILLIAM PENN? Many people in this area know the name William Penn (1644- 1718), but few know much about him. Did you know that the reason he was granted land in the New World was because his father- an Admiral in the British Navy- was owed money by King Charles II of England? Did you know he was a devout Quaker who was jailed at least four times for his beliefs? Or that he only spent a total of four years (1682- 1684; 1699- 1701) in his colony of Pennsylvania, returned to England and died there penniless because a trusted advisor had cheated him out of huge sums of money? It seems many people- even historians- don't know much about the man who created one of England's most prosperous colonies and introduced numerous legal reforms that were in some ways a model for our Constitution. William Penn wrote dozens of books and pamphlets on religious freedom and was a beacon for thousands of others who followed him to his colony for a chance to live their lives in peace, without fear of persecution. He also made Pennsylvania a place where individuals could pursue their dreams, run their businesses and enjoy the liberties which we have today.