Final answer:
William Penn is recognized as the founder of Pennsylvania, establishing the colony in 1681 after receiving a land grant from King Charles II to settle a debt. A paradoxical figure, Penn was deeply influenced by Quakerism despite his privileged background. His efforts set the stage for the governance and development of Pennsylvania.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Penn is credited with being the founder of the Pennsylvania (PA) program in the U.S. After joining the Society of Friends in 1667, his thoughts and beliefs were heavily influenced by Quaker missionary Thomas Loe. Despite his father's efforts to steer him away by sending him to French nobility, Penn's religious convictions only deepened. He lived a life of paradox, as on one hand, he was the son of a successful naval officer, and on the other, he became a leading figure in Quakerism.
Pennsylvania, meaning Penn's Woods in Latin, was established in 1681 when King Charles II granted Penn the largest proprietary colony in the Americas to settle a debt owed to his family. This was after Admiral William Penn, William's father, had served the English crown and aided in the conquest of Jamaica from the Spanish. The grant not only settled a personal debt of the king's but also laid the foundations for the PA program and the subsequent drafting of Pennsylvania's constitution.