John Penn (delegate)
Encyclopedia
John Penn was a signer of both the United States
Declaration of Independence
and the Articles of Confederation
as a representative of North Carolina
. Penn was distantly related to William Penn
, founder of Pennsylvania
.
in Caroline County, Virginia
, an only child of Moses Penn and Catherine [Taylor] Penn. He attended at common school for only two years as his father did not consider education to be important. At age 18, after his father's death, Penn privately studied law with his uncle, Edmund Pendleton
. He became a lawyer in Virginia
in 1762. In 1774, Penn moved to the Williamsboro, North Carolina, area, where he practiced law.
, a political leader from Virginia.
and elected by that body to the Continental Congress
in 1775, serving until 1780. For the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence, he was part of the North Carolina
delegation that included Joseph Hewes
and William Hooper
. In 1777, Penn was one of the North Carolina signers of the Articles of Confederation. Penn also served on the Board of War
until 1780, when he retired to once again practice law. He served as receiver of taxes for North Carolina in 1784. Upon Penn's death in 1788, he was buried on his estate near Island Creek, in Granville County. Penn was re-interred in Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
in 1894, alongside fellow delegate, Hooper.
was named in his honor.
An historical highway marker honoring Penn was the first one erected by the State of North Carolina (January 10, 1936)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
and the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
as a representative of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Penn was distantly related to William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, founder of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early Life
Penn was born near Port RoyalPort Royal, Virginia
Port Royal is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 170 at the 2000 census.Port Royal was established in the mid-17th century in the Colony of Virginia primary as a port on a navigable portion of the Rappahannock River for export of tobacco, Virginia's...
in Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
, an only child of Moses Penn and Catherine [Taylor] Penn. He attended at common school for only two years as his father did not consider education to be important. At age 18, after his father's death, Penn privately studied law with his uncle, Edmund Pendleton
Edmund Pendleton
Edmund Pendleton was a Virginia politician, lawyer and judge, active in the American Revolutionary War. -Early years:...
. He became a lawyer in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1762. In 1774, Penn moved to the Williamsboro, North Carolina, area, where he practiced law.
Relations
On July 28, 1763, Penn married Susannah Lyne. The couple had two children. Their daughter, Lucy, married John Taylor of CarolineJohn Taylor of Caroline
John Taylor usually called John Taylor of Caroline was a politician and writer. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates and in the United States Senate . He wrote several books on politics and agriculture...
, a political leader from Virginia.
Political Career
Penn was elected to the North Carolina Provincial CongressNorth Carolina Provincial Congress
The North Carolina Provincial Congresses were extra-legal unicameral legislative bodies formed in 1774 through 1776 by the people of the Province of North Carolina, independent of the British colonial government.-First Provincial Congress:...
and elected by that body to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1775, serving until 1780. For the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence, he was part of the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
delegation that included Joseph Hewes
Joseph Hewes
Joseph Hewes was a native of Princeton, New Jersey, where he was born in 1730. Hewes’s parents were part of the Quaker Society of Friends. Immediately after their marriage they moved to New Jersey, which became Joseph Hewes’s home state. Hewes was formally educated at Princeton and after...
and William Hooper
William Hooper
William Hooper was an American lawyer, politician, and a member of the Continental Congress representing North Carolina from 1774 through 1777...
. In 1777, Penn was one of the North Carolina signers of the Articles of Confederation. Penn also served on the Board of War
Board of War
The Board of War was created by the Second Continental Congress as a special standing committee to oversee the American Continental Army's administration and to make recommendations regarding the army to Congress. On January 24, 1776, Congressional delegate Edward Rutledge, echoing Gen. George...
until 1780, when he retired to once again practice law. He served as receiver of taxes for North Carolina in 1784. Upon Penn's death in 1788, he was buried on his estate near Island Creek, in Granville County. Penn was re-interred in Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, at 2332 New Garden Road in Greensboro, North Carolina, commemorates the Battle of Guilford Court House, fought on March 15, 1781. This battle opened the campaign that led to American victory in the Revolutionary War. The losses by the British in this...
in 1894, alongside fellow delegate, Hooper.
Legacy
The naval ship USS John PennUSS John Penn (APA-23)
USS John Penn was a John Penn-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II. Named after John Penn, a signatory to the American Declaration of Independence, she was the only ship in her class....
was named in his honor.
An historical highway marker honoring Penn was the first one erected by the State of North Carolina (January 10, 1936)