Saturday, October 24, 2026

Question: William Penn’s first choice of name for his new colony didn’t include “Penn” at all. What did he want to call it?

Answer: New Wales. A member of the king’s Privy Council objected, so Penn settled on Sylvania, Latin for “woods.” King Charles II then added “Penn” to honor Penn’s father, Adm. William Penn. Penn was so uneasy about it that he tried to bribe two undersecretaries to change it before giving in.