Richard Penn (governor)

Richard Penn (governor) was a British colonial administrator and a grandson of William Penn, the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania. He served as the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1771 to 1773, effectively acting as governor during the absence of his brother, John Penn. Penn is historically notable for his role in delivering the Olive Branch Petition to King George III in 1775, a final diplomatic effort to avert the American Revolution.

Early life and family

Richard Penn was born around 1735 in London to Richard Penn Sr. and Hannah Lardner. He was a grandson of the province's founder, William Penn, and a nephew of the primary proprietor, Thomas Penn. His elder brother was John Penn, who served as the last colonial governor of Pennsylvania. The Penn family were the hereditary Proprietors of Pennsylvania, holding vast land grants and significant political authority under the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges. Richard Penn married Mary Masters, and their son, also named Richard Penn, would later serve as a Member of Parliament for Helston and Ludgershall.

Political career

In 1771, Richard Penn was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, arriving in Philadelphia to administer the colony while his brother, Governor John Penn, was in England. During his tenure, he dealt with ongoing frontier tensions following the French and Indian War and increasing disputes between the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and the General Assembly over taxation and proprietary lands. His administration was marked by the continuing political struggle between the Penn family proprietors and the elected assembly, a conflict that dated back to the era of Benjamin Franklin. Penn returned to England in 1773, and his brother resumed the governorship, facing the escalating crisis that would lead to revolution.

Role in the American Revolution

Although he had left office, Richard Penn played a brief but significant diplomatic role at the outbreak of the American Revolution. In July 1775, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the Olive Branch Petition as a last appeal for peace to King George III. Richard Penn, along with his uncle-by-marriage, former Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Arthur Lee, was chosen by Congress to deliver the petition to London due to his status as a member of the Penn family and his presumed access to the court. He presented the petition to Lord Dartmouth, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in August 1775. However, the king refused to receive it or the accompanying addresses from Congress, and the Proclamation of Rebellion was soon issued, formally rejecting the colonists' pleas and escalating the conflict.

Later life and death

After the failure of his diplomatic mission, Richard Penn remained in England for the rest of his life. The Pennsylvania Assembly confiscated the proprietary estates of the Penn family during the revolution, though they were later partially compensated. Penn lived in relative obscurity at his home in Richmond, London. He died there on 27 May 1811 and was buried at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Richmond. His death marked the passing of a generation directly connected to the proprietary rule of Pennsylvania.

Legacy

Richard Penn's historical significance lies primarily in his symbolic role as the bearer of the Olive Branch Petition, representing the final formal attempt at reconciliation before the American Revolutionary War became inevitable. While his gubernatorial tenure was short and overshadowed by his brother's, his involvement in this critical diplomatic episode links him directly to a pivotal moment in British imperial history. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recognizes the contributions of the Penn family, and artifacts related to Richard Penn are held in collections such as those of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Category:1735 births Category:1811 deaths Category:Colonial governors of Pennsylvania Category:Penn family