Penn, Hannah Callowhill (1671-1726), was the acting proprietor responsible for managing the colony of Pennsylvania from 1712 to 1726. She was the second wife of William Penn, the English colonial leader who founded Pennsylvania. She began managing the affairs of Pennsylvania late in her husband’s life. Hannah continued as the colony’s acting proprietor for eight years following William’s death in 1718.
Hannah Callowhill was born in Bristol, England, on Feb. 11, 1671. Her family belonged to the Quaker faith, and her father was a wealthy merchant. In 1696, she married William Penn, a fellow Quaker. The couple had seven children.
In the early years of marriage, Hannah devoted most of her time to raising children and maintaining households both in Pennsylvania and in England. In 1712, William suffered strokes that affected his mental ability and eventually paralyzed him. Hannah then took up her husband’s business affairs and became acting proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania. James Logan, the colony’s secretary, advised the Penns on colonial matters. William died in 1718, and Hannah continued to manage the colony.
Hannah died in London on Dec. 20, 1726. The descendants of Hannah and William Penn continued to guide the Pennsylvania colony until the American Revolution (1775-1783). In 1984, President Ronald Reagan named Hannah and William Penn honorary citizens of the United States. She was the first woman to be granted this honor.
