William Penn was born in 1644 in London and was expected to follow his father's footsteps to become a royalist, but instead became a Quaker rebel. He founded Pennsylvania in 1681 as a place where people of different religions and races could have freedom of religious expression and rights. However, he owned slaves, which contradicted his vision of liberty. Penn established low taxes and tariffs to promote settlement in Pennsylvania. He suffered several strokes later in life and died in 1718, but his memory lives on for founding Pennsylvania and establishing religious freedom.

1. William Penn By: Will .M