Leo G. Carroll, distinguished character actor in movies and television (he was "Cosmo Topper" and "Alexander Waverley") appears as William Penn in this episode. I discovered years ago that he is not acting as the founder of Pennsylvania. He is appearing as the father of the founder of Pennsylvania - and a distinguished British figure of his day too.
William Penn Sr. was a military man - in Cromwell's forces. He rose to the rank of Admiral, and accomplished one of the great events of the Commonwealth period that carried over long after Cromwell's remains were dangling from a cage as a warning to regicides. In 1653, Penn led a naval force and captured the Spanish island of Jamaica. This was the third largest island in the Caribbean, and quite rich with sugar plantations. Such an acquisition was just too good. In 1660, when Charles II returned to England to rule, the Spaniards thought he would return the island to them for nothing. After all, it was seized by a supporter of the man who killed (or helped to kill) Charles II's father. And Charles II decided to not return the island, so that it remained in the empire, and is now a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. As for Admiral Penn, he was treated with great respect.
So was his son William, a leading figure in the Quaker religious movement (that was just starting under it's founder George Fox). Charles II and his brother James, Duke of York, had mixed feelings about Penn, because of the laws that were fully in support only of the Anglican religion. But Charles II was a secret Catholic, and James an open Catholic. So they were interested in religious tolerance. Charles II was even willing to continue the policy of Oliver Cromwell in allowing the Jews to return to England. So Charles had to allow the Parliament to persecute the Quakers (including William Penn Jr.) and yet secretly wished Penn well.
Penn Jr. would make history in a trial for sedition concerning the rights of juries to independence of thought in 1675. For a man who caused such a revolution in legal thinking, he was welcomed to the Duke of York's palace, and the King's. They were secretly making common cause with Penn Jr. on religious toleration.
When James, Duke of York became King James II in 1685, he decided to make an offer to Penn Jr. He offered him a huge chunk of the North American territories he ruled for a private proprietorship. Penn Jr. liked the offer as he could use the colony for religious tolerance. Penn Jr. agreed, but when King James suggested naming it for Penn Jr., the latter gently refused. He asked it be named for his father, the late Admiral. So when we talk about the state of Pennsylvania, we may think it is about the Quaker Penn, it is actually in honor of the conqueror of Jamaica.
William Penn Sr. was a military man - in Cromwell's forces. He rose to the rank of Admiral, and accomplished one of the great events of the Commonwealth period that carried over long after Cromwell's remains were dangling from a cage as a warning to regicides. In 1653, Penn led a naval force and captured the Spanish island of Jamaica. This was the third largest island in the Caribbean, and quite rich with sugar plantations. Such an acquisition was just too good. In 1660, when Charles II returned to England to rule, the Spaniards thought he would return the island to them for nothing. After all, it was seized by a supporter of the man who killed (or helped to kill) Charles II's father. And Charles II decided to not return the island, so that it remained in the empire, and is now a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. As for Admiral Penn, he was treated with great respect.
So was his son William, a leading figure in the Quaker religious movement (that was just starting under it's founder George Fox). Charles II and his brother James, Duke of York, had mixed feelings about Penn, because of the laws that were fully in support only of the Anglican religion. But Charles II was a secret Catholic, and James an open Catholic. So they were interested in religious tolerance. Charles II was even willing to continue the policy of Oliver Cromwell in allowing the Jews to return to England. So Charles had to allow the Parliament to persecute the Quakers (including William Penn Jr.) and yet secretly wished Penn well.
Penn Jr. would make history in a trial for sedition concerning the rights of juries to independence of thought in 1675. For a man who caused such a revolution in legal thinking, he was welcomed to the Duke of York's palace, and the King's. They were secretly making common cause with Penn Jr. on religious toleration.
When James, Duke of York became King James II in 1685, he decided to make an offer to Penn Jr. He offered him a huge chunk of the North American territories he ruled for a private proprietorship. Penn Jr. liked the offer as he could use the colony for religious tolerance. Penn Jr. agreed, but when King James suggested naming it for Penn Jr., the latter gently refused. He asked it be named for his father, the late Admiral. So when we talk about the state of Pennsylvania, we may think it is about the Quaker Penn, it is actually in honor of the conqueror of Jamaica.