William Penn (Admiral)

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Sir William Penn (born April 23, 1621 in Bristol , † September 16, 1670 in Wanstead ) was an English admiral .

Life

Admiral Sir William Penn , 1621–1670 , painted 1665–1666 by Sir Peter Lely

Penn was the son of Giles Penn and Joan Gilbert. On June 6, 1643 he married Margaret Jasper - they had three children: Margaret, Richard and William , the eventual founder of Pennsylvania .

In the First Anglo-Dutch Sea War 1652-1654 he served in the Navy of the Commonwealth of England and commanded squadrons in the naval battles of Kentish Knock , Portland , Gabbard and Scheveningen . In 1655 he commanded the fleet (the land forces commanded Robert Venables ), which, as part of western design , attacked the Spanish island of Hispaniola - and in May 1655 soldiers landed in Jamaica , who conquered the island. In 1658 he was made a Knight Bachelor , but the republican knighthood was no longer recognized after the Stuart Restoration . During the Stuart Restoration he was chosen to bring King Charles II to England.

In the Second Anglo-Dutch Sea War 1665–1667 he was commandant of the fleet in the naval battle at Lowestoft . During the Great Fire of London in September 1666, he helped to fight the fire by blowing up the fire.

An important source about the life of the adult Penn is the diary of Samuel Pepys , with whom he worked since 1660 in the "Navy Board" (naval office). According to Pepy, Penn was a moderate roundhead .

Penn's grave is in St. Mary Redcliffe's Church in Bristol , where his helmet and armor hang on a wall.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Penn, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English admiral
DATE OF BIRTH April 23, 1621
PLACE OF BIRTH Bristol
DATE OF DEATH September 16, 1670
Place of death Wanstead