William Penn
William Penn (born October 14, 1644 in London , † July 30, 1718 in Ruscombe , Berkshire ) founded the Pennsylvania colony in what is now the United States . In 1693 he wrote the essay towards the Present and Future Peace of Europe .
Life
Origin and studies
Penn was born to Margaret Jasper, the Admiral of the same name, Sir William Penn , who was one of the richest and most influential men in England . After his training in Oxford he first studied Protestant theology in France and was received at the court of Louis XIV . He then studied in London Jura and started to manage the extensive possessions of his family in England and Ireland.
Penn as a Quaker
During this time he came into contact with the Quaker movement , the most famous and respected speaker of which he soon became. Because of his faith he was cast out by his father and taken prisoner several times in England. Despite the quarrel with his father, the latter used his influence twice to obtain the release of his son. The father died on September 16, 1670 shortly after Penn was released a second time. Before his death, Penn's father was reconciled with his son. He married the Quaker Guglielma Springett in 1672, with whom he had three children: Springett, William and Laetitia (also called "Letty").
Despite the restricted religious freedom and repeated imprisonment, Penn continued his appearance as a Quaker and advocated religious tolerance and political liberalism .
Pennsylvania
In the 1670s he developed a model for a new settlement in North America . To this end, he traveled to Germany in 1671 and 1677 and promoted the settlement of German colonists in North America. After the death of Penn's father, King Charles II paid off a major debt in 1681 by bequeathing a vast area of the North American wilderness to Penn and appointing him governor there . William Penn wanted to call the colony "New Wales". When this was rejected by the British Crown, he suggested the name "Sylvania". Charles II then decreed the final name Pennsylvania in honor of Admiral Sir William Penn. It included the two current states of Pennsylvania and Delaware . In the same year, Penn founded the capital Philadelphia , making it one of the oldest cities in the United States.
"The Great Treaty" was signed in June 1683 under the Great Elm of Shakamaxon.
Chief Tammany's name first appeared on a contract dated June 23, 1683, when he put his mark on the deed making William Penn the owner of
“All my Lands, Lying betwixt Pemmapecka and Nessaminehs Creeks and all along Nesheminehs Creeks *** for ye Consideration of so much Wampum, so many Guns, Shoes, Stockings, Looking-glasses, Blankets and other goods as he, ye sd William Penn shall please to give unto me. "
"All of my lands between the Pemmapacka and Nessaminehs rivers and all along the Nesheminehs rivers *** for your consideration of so much peace, so many guns, shoes, stockings, mirrors, blankets and other goods that you said William Penn have given me will let. "
On June 25, 1683, the name sign "Tammany" appears together with four other Indians as witnesses under another contract for William Penn
"Lands Lying on ye West side of ye Skolkill River beginning from ye first Falls of ye same all along upon ye sd River and Backward of ye same, so farr as my right goeth."
Penn dared what he called the “sacred experiment,” and implemented a system of government based on brotherhood and personal freedom for settlers and Indians . Under his influence, the settlement of German settlers, including the family of his cousin Abraham Isacks op den Graeff , began in 1683 in Germantown , Pennsylvania, through his friend Franz Daniel Pastorius . Pennsylvania became a refuge for members of religious minorities who were persecuted or discriminated against in Europe (Quakers, Huguenots , Mennonites , Bohemian Brothers , Jews, etc.), but also for denominations such as Lutherans and Catholics (who were displaced in all other British colonies), who did not have full citizenship in other American colonies.
With its unusually liberal suffrage and full religious freedom , Penn's system was way ahead of its time. Due to the fact that Penn protected the Indians from alcohol and exploitative whites and strictly adhered to the land assignment treaties, Pennsylvania was spared from Indian raids. Penn had intensive contact with the neighboring Indian ethnic groups (such as the Lenni Lenape or the Iroquois ) and spoke their languages.
Another fate in England
In total, Penn only spent a few years in Pennsylvania. Most of the time he was in England for his "holy experiment", which was always in great danger. He also had to look after his family in England. His wife Guglielma died in 1693 after a long illness. His eldest son Springett died on February 10, 1696, also after a long illness. Penn married a second time that same year. He then had six children with his second wife, Hannah Callowhill .
His secretary in England was Johann Georg Bachmann (* 1686 in Richterswil , Switzerland, † 1753 in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania) ⚭ 1715 Ibersheim, Worms with Anna Maria Schnebeli (* 1698, † 1776).
Although Pennsylvania was quickly becoming a wealthy colony, Penn made little money from it. Cheated by his financial steward, Philip Ford, he got so deeply into debt that he had to go to the debt prison for some time . The subsequent lawsuit against Ford cost him a lot of energy. He suffered three strokes that made his health very weak. William Penn died disappointed and bitter in 1718.
Literary work
Numerous writings of Penn were translated into German and achieved large editions. Penn was thus more popular in Germany than George Fox , who is widely regarded as the founder of Quakerism . Even Penn's work was more popular than the well-known apology from Robert Barclay .
The works that were translated early on included:
- Demand of Christianity before the court
- A kind visitation in the love of God that overcomes the world
- Brief news of the birth and progress of the Christian Society of Friends called Quakers
- Tender advice and tender visit in the love of God
- Restoration of first Christianity
- Key to the Principles
- Fruits of loneliness
The latter work was the most extensive for a long time with almost 240 pages. The Short Message even found a public review, but it was devastating.
During their stay in 1668 in the Tower of London , he wrote his work without the cross no crown (Engl. No Cross No Crown ). This linguistic work was translated into various languages early on (but not yet into German, despite great interest from Germany). In the work Penn deals with all the important principles of the then new movement. He explains and defends the peculiar behavior of the Quakers and tries to identify Quakerism as true early Christianity. In a partly polemical way, Penn attacks the established churches and their supporters as implausible.
Essay towards the Present and Future Peace of Europe
William Penn's plan for European unification emerged in London during the politically uncertain and tense phase of the years 1691 to 1693. Penn's essay was published four times (1693, 1693, 1696, 1702).
Penn described in the essay why he had decided to stand up for the establishment and safeguarding of peace in Europe. In the eyes of Penn, peace meant securing the property, free trade, the settlement of industry, general economic upswing through an improved order situation, and the promotion of general welfare and hospitality, while the war, in addition to death, atrocity and impoverishment, above all meant greed and hoarding of the wealthy reinforce, force the poor to live as soldiers or thieves and do not entail any economic benefit. He saw justice as the companion of peace, which was needed to mediate between the parties and which ultimately defined and safeguarded rights and obligations in the form of legislation. The government is also a necessary remedy for confusion and emerges from a general social consensus.
Penn also dealt with the institutional establishment of a parliament, confederation (or assembly of states) at the European level, whereby the terms used ( Parliament of Europe , States of Europe , European Confederacy , European League , General Diet Estates , Imperial Parliament ) are often right found any exchange. They primarily deal with possible members and their eligibility for membership, the nature of legal titles and discuss questions of presidency and representation, voting and electoral behavior, the obligation to be present and represent, as well as possible penalties and sanctions. As the language of discussion, negotiation and contract, Penn suggested either Latin or French , which both had advantages and could be equally accepted.
To justify his peace plan, William Penn referred explicitly to the bloody events that had taken place since 1688 in Hungary, Flanders, England, Ireland or at sea, and by which no human being could be unaffected. A Europe-wide peace was needed to prevent such tragedies in the future, but Penn did not provide a general definition of what "Europe" meant to him.
Penn decided on a politico-geographical concept of Europe, which could be read particularly from the composition of a general or state assembly and the distribution of votes of the delegates present. Accordingly, the Holy Roman Empire should have 12 each , France and Spain 10 each, Italy (excluding the Republic of Venice) 8, England 6, Sweden , Poland and the States General 4 each, Denmark , Portugal and the Republic of Venice 3 each, and the Swiss cantons , the The Duchy of Holstein and Courland as well as smaller principalities each have 1 vote, so that the total votes would have been 70. In the (fair) case that the Turks and Russians ( Muscovites ) had also been accepted as members, they would each have 10 delegates, which would have increased the number of votes to 90. Such a gathering would have highlighted "Europe" as the best and wealthyest part of the known world in Penn's view . Penn's Vision of Europe: Religion and Learning, Civility and Arts have their Seat and Empire.
In the event that changes in the legal title required a composition revision, Penn suggested that all claims made be carefully examined. Legal titles would only exist before the General Assembly or State Assembly if they were due to an undoubted succession (England, France, Spain), an election (imperial election in the Empire, Polish electoral monarchy), a marriage ( Stuart dynasty in England, acquisition of the Duchy of Cleves by the Brandenburg electors) or legitimate acquisition (examples from the Reich and Italy). On the other hand, the European assembly of states to be created must reject claims and titles that had been achieved by sword and blood (Turkish conquests of Christian territories, conquest of Flanders by Spain, conquest of Burgundy, Normandy and Lorraine by France), as they were morally questionable if they would not have found confirmation afterwards through a contract. At this point the desire for a peaceful community of legal and values based on Christian standards becomes particularly evident, but it runs through the entire essay. According to Penn, the international community leads to the benefits of an Universal Monarchy, without the inconveniences that attend it .
In the last sections, possible objections are anticipated, invalidated and the positive effects of the plan such as a godly life in Christian charity and peace ( Pacifick means ), the improved reputation of Christianity among the unbelievers, the avoidance of the often enormous expenditure of war and their peaceful use , the facilitation of trade and travel, the increased resistance to Turkish expansionist efforts and the more intensive friendship between all European princes, states and peoples.
In conclusion, Penn points out that the creation of such an institution - with very limited supranational action - is by no means unnatural, because: by the same Rules of Justice and Prudence, by which Parents and Masters Govern their Families, and Magistrates their Cities, and Estates their Republicks, and Princes and Kings their Principalities and Kingdoms, Europe may Obtain and Preserve peace among the Soveraignties. According to Penn, the best suggestions for his peace plan came from his research on the French King Henry IV , who had already started a lot of thought about 100 years before him. Penn describes his remarks as an experiment that is necessary to establish lasting peace in Europe and around the world.
In terms of the history of ideas, William Penn's essay marked a milestone in the history of the "European plans", which - also according to his own statements - has a close connection to the plans of Henry IV and his companion Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully and astonishingly detailed numerous achievements of post-war Europe of the 20th century .
Afterlife
Penn's feast day is July 30th in the Evangelical name calendar .
One of the landmarks of the city of Philadelphia is the William Penn statue by Alexander Milne Calder , which was installed on the top of the city hall roof in 1894 and made the building the tallest habitable in the world at 167 m by 1908.
Penn's influence in Pennsylvania was very noticeable for generations. In 1945 a welfare organization was founded and named after him (William Penn Foundation), which aims to promote the quality of life in the region in and around Philadelphia in the areas of culture, youth and community life.
On November 28, 1984, the declared US President Ronald Reagan William Penn and his second wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn, posthumously to honor citizens of the United States.
A quote from his work More Fruits of Solitude about friendship and death is one of the two mottos of the seventh volume of the Harry Potter series .
The American actress Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is a distant descendant of William Penn.
Legend
A legend that keeps popping up is that Penn is said to have asked the famous Quaker preacher George Fox if he could carry his sword. This is said to have said "Carry your sword as long as you can." A little later, the two are said to have met again and Fox is said to have asked him where he - Penn - had his sword, to which he should have replied that he is now could no longer carry. This story is a free invention. It is just a - still today - popular legend among Quakers.
literature
- German
- William Penn: There is no crown without a cross. Study edition. Edited by Claus Bernet , Olaf Radicke. Books on Demand, Norderstedt 2009, ISBN 978-3-8391-2608-0 .
- Paul Gerhard Aring : William Penn. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 7, Bautz, Herzberg 1994, ISBN 3-88309-048-4 , Sp. 186-188.
- Rolf Felbinger: Source autopsy "William Penn (1693)". In: Wolfgang Schmale (Dir.): Concepts and concepts of Europe in the 17th century. Web project.
- Kurt von Raumer : Eternal Peace. Peace calls and peace plans since the Renaissance. Alber, Freiburg im Breisgau et al. 1953, pp. 97–116 and pp. 321–341.
- Kurt Rose : The Admiral's son. William Penn - Departure into the New World. Brunnen-Verlag, Giessen et al. 1991, ISBN 3-7655-1516-7 .
- English
- Richard S. Dunn, Mary Maples Dunn (Eds.): The world of William Penn. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia PA 1986, ISBN 0-8122-8020-2 .
- William Durland: William Penn, James Madison, and the historical crisis in American federalism (= Studies in American History. 28). E. Mellen Press, Lewiston NY et al. 2000, ISBN 0-7734-7698-9 .
- Mary K. Geiter: William Penn. Longman, Harlow et al. 2000, ISBN 0-582-29900-4 .
- John A. Moretta: William Penn and the Quaker legacy . Pearson Longman, New York 2007, ISBN 978-0-321-16392-9 .
- Catherine Owens Peare: William Penn. A biography. Lippincott, Philadelphia PA et al. 1957.
- Jean R. Soderlund (Ed.): William Penn and the founding of Pennsylvania, 1680–1684. A documentary history. University of Pennsylvania Press et al., Philadelphia PA 1983, ISBN 0-8122-7862-3 .
Web links
- Without a cross there is no crown on wikisource.org
- Literature by and about William Penn in the catalog of the German National Library
- William Penn in the database of Find a Grave (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Edwin P. Kilroe, Abraham Kaplan, Joseph Johnson: The Story of Tammany. Democratic Organization - New York County, New York NY 1924, p. 6.
-
^ June Shaull Lutz: History of the Op Den Graeff / Updegraff family. 1988, p. 1.
Mennonite World Review - More than our family tree. - ^ Joseph J. Casino: Anti-Popery in Colonial Pennsylvania. P. 289.
- ↑ How an Ibersheimer helped found Pennsylvania, USA.
- ↑ a b Claus Bernet (ed.): German Quäkerschriften des 18. Century (= German Quäkerschriften. Volume 2). Emphasis. Georg Olms, Hildesheim et al. 2007, ISBN 978-3-487-13408-6 , p. 393.
- ↑ William Penn: No cross no crown (engl. No Cross No Crown ), Translation 1826: digitized and text at Wikisource
- ↑ Example of violent polemics: Chapter 2 , § 8, first paragraph. Penn complains, for example, of a "Christianity that is full of all the abominations known only on earth".
- ^ William Penn in the Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints
- ↑ Meryl Streep. Faces of America, 2010, accessed February 5, 2010 .
- ^ Joi-Marie McKenzie: Henry Louis Gates Says He Broke Meryl Streep's Heart. Niteside, February 4, 2010; accessed February 4, 2010 .
- ↑ Quaker Heritage Press
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Penn, William |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | founded the Pennsylvania colony |
DATE OF BIRTH | October 14, 1644 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
DATE OF DEATH | July 30, 1718 |
Place of death | Ruscombe , Berkshire |