1Honoring the legacy of Hannah Callowhill Penn, the first woman
2who governed Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Hannah Callowhill Penn was born in Bristol, England,
4on February 11, 1671; and

5WHEREAS, On March 5, 1696, she married William Penn, founder
6of the province of Pennsylvania, and the couple arrived in
7Philadelphia on December 10, 1699; and

8WHEREAS, William Penn and Hannah Callowhill Penn resided at
9Pennsbury Manor in Morrisville; and

10WHEREAS, Both Hannah Callowhill Penn and William Penn made
11remarkable contributions to our Commonwealth and to the founding
12of our nation and were lifelong advocates of peace and justice;
13and

14WHEREAS, When William Penn became incapacitated by a stroke
15in 1712, Hannah Callowhill Penn effectively governed in his name

1and handled all of his other complicated financial and legal
2affairs until his death in 1718; and

3WHEREAS, After William Penn's death, Hannah Callowhill Penn
4continued to govern Pennsylvania from England for another eight
5years until her death in 1726; and

6WHEREAS, Hannah Callowhill Penn played an instrumental role
7in the development of Pennsylvania and at the time of her
8governance, no other woman in Britain, except Queen Mary II and
9Queen Anne, held such direct political power; and

10WHEREAS, For her historic contributions, Hannah Callowhill
11Penn was granted honorary United States citizenship in 1984 and
12honorary Pennsylvania citizenship in 1985; and

13WHEREAS, Numerous events have been planned to honor the
14legacy of Hanna Callowhill Penn in the coming year; and

15WHEREAS, March 12, 2013, was proclaimed "Hannah Callowhill
16Penn Day" in Pennsylvania by Governor Tom Corbett in her honor;
17and

18WHEREAS, "Hannah Callowhill Penn Day" marked the beginning of
19a yearlong project to recognize Hanna Callowhill Penn's
20achievements and contributions to our Commonwealth; and

21WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Commission for Women will present
22an annual Hannah Penn Leadership Award to inspire leadership
23among the women of this Commonwealth; therefore be it

24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the legacy
25of Hannah Callowhill Penn, the first woman who governed
26Pennsylvania.