William Penn was an Englishman and a devout Quaker who had been 
arrested several times for his religious beliefs.  Nonetheless, he was 
appointed proprietor of Pennsylvania (named for his father) in 1681.  
Before arriving in America, he drafted a "Frame of Government" for 
the territory, combining his high idealism of government and religion 
with a pragmatic approach.  Penn encouraged friendly relations with 
the Indians.  In 1682, he signed a treaty with the Delaware Indians 
(pictured here in this engraving), the first treaty Indians ever signed 
with whites.  The agreement protected the Delawares' rights to the 
land as well as their freedom of religion.