Hannah Callowhill Penn

Portrait of Hanah Callowhill Penn from 1720

Hannah Callowhill Penn (born February 11, 1671 , † 1727 ) was the second wife of the Quaker William Penn . She ruled the Pennsylvania Province for six years after her husband suffered three strokes and another eight years after her husband's death. She is the first woman to become an honorary citizen of the United States . Honorary Citizenship was bestowed upon her on November 28, 1984 by a presidential announcement under federal law (PL.98-516) by then-President Ronald Reagan .

Hannah Callowhill married William Penn, who was 52 years old, at the age of 24. She was pregnant with the second of their eight children when the couple started their three-month trip to America from England. When William Penn died at the age of 73 on July 30, 1718, his will stipulated that Hannah Callowhill Penn would take full administration of the province of Pennsylvania and its property. The eldest son, William Penns, attempted to gain control of Pennsylvania at his wedding, but failed. Hannah Penn died of a stroke at the age of 55.

The Callowhill Street in Philadelphia is named for Hannah Penn from her husband when he docked the city. A middle school in York, Pennsylvania was also named after her.

Web links

• Ronald Reagan: Proclamation 5284 - Honorary United States Citizenship for William and Hannah Penn. The University of Texas at Austin, November 28, 1984, archived from the original on July 23, 2013 .