Voting Station

William Penn

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Explorer

The Resume

    (October 14, 1644-July 30, 1718)
    Joined the Religious Society of Friends (1669)
    Founded the Province of Pennsylvania (1681)

Why he might be annoying:

    Pennsylvania is not named after him, but his father.
    He feared people would believe the colony was named after himself (and many people do believe that).
    He received Pennsylvania as payment for a large loan the King had with Penn's father.
    He owned and traded slaves.
    He spent a decade of his life fighting against his financial advisor in court cases.
    He only lived in Pennsylvania for two years and made only one visit after returning to England (1682-1684, 1699).
    He tried to sell Pennsylvania back to England (1712).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was arrested several times for his religious beliefs, sometimes without breaking any laws.
    In one trial, he successfully proved he was not guilty. Not only was he imprisoned, but so was the entire jury that acquitted him.
    He created Pennsylvania as a place free from persecution.
    He was expelled from Oxford for being a Quaker.
    He treated the Native Americans kindly and insured they were paid fairly for their lands.
    He introduced laws to protect Native Americans.
    He guaranteed free and fair trial by jury, freedom of religion, freedom from unjust imprisonment and free elections.
    His philosophy of government had a huge influence on the U.S. Constitution.
    An Act of Congress declared him an Honorary Citizen of the United States (1984).

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 24 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 60 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 26 Votes: 42.31% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 25 Votes: 36.00% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 40.62% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 119 Votes: 47.90% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 160 Votes: 44.38% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 194 Votes: 45.88% Annoying