Difference between revisions of "William Adams"
(save) |
(save) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{inuse}} | {{inuse}} | ||
| − | [[Image:WilliamAdams.jpg|thumb|150px|Picture of William Adams]]'''William Adams''' (''c.'' 1564-1620) was an [[England|English]] navigator. He was born in Gillingham, [[Kent]] and became the first Englishman to visit [[Japan] | + | [[Image:WilliamAdams.jpg|thumb|150px|Picture of William Adams]]'''William Adams''' (''c.'' 1564-1620) was an [[England|English]] navigator. He was born in Gillingham, [[Kent]] and became the first Englishman to visit [[Japan]]<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003678/William-Adams Britannica Online: William Adams]</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | Adams was apprenticed in the merchant marine at the age of 12 where he learned shipbuilding, [[astronomy]], and [[navigation]]. At the age of 24 he joined the [[Royal Navy]] and served under [[Sir Francis Drake]] including action against the [[Spanish Armada]] as master of the Richarde Dyffylde, a resupply ship, in 1588. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1598, when he was 34-years old, William served as chief pilot on the flagship ''De Hoop'' (Hope) of a five ship fleet dispatched from Holland to the East Indies via the [[Straits of Magellan]]. The names of the other ships in the fleet were<ref>[http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17900/26373.htm Will Adams - Gillingham's famous blue-eyed Samurai]</ref>: | ||
| + | :De Liefde (Charity), | ||
| + | :Het Geloof (Faith), | ||
| + | :De Trouw (Fidelity) | ||
| + | :Blyde Boodschop (Good News). | ||
| + | |||
| + | In Japan he found favour with the [[Shogun]] Ieyasu and helped establish an English/Dutch trading settlement there. He was given the name Miura Anjin ("the pilot of Miura" in Japanese) and when he diied in 1620 at the age of 55 was buried in Hikado. | ||
| + | |||
<ref>[http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17900/26373.htm Will Adams - Gillingham's famous blue-eyed Samurai]</ref>. | <ref>[http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17900/26373.htm Will Adams - Gillingham's famous blue-eyed Samurai]</ref>. | ||
The character John Blackthorne in James Clavell's novel ''Shogun'', is loosely based upon his life. | The character John Blackthorne in James Clavell's novel ''Shogun'', is loosely based upon his life. | ||
Revision as of 23:13, January 19, 2008
This article is currently undergoing a major revision. Please do not edit this page until this template is removed.
William Adams (c. 1564-1620) was an English navigator. He was born in Gillingham, Kent and became the first Englishman to visit Japan[1]
Adams was apprenticed in the merchant marine at the age of 12 where he learned shipbuilding, astronomy, and navigation. At the age of 24 he joined the Royal Navy and served under Sir Francis Drake including action against the Spanish Armada as master of the Richarde Dyffylde, a resupply ship, in 1588.
In 1598, when he was 34-years old, William served as chief pilot on the flagship De Hoop (Hope) of a five ship fleet dispatched from Holland to the East Indies via the Straits of Magellan. The names of the other ships in the fleet were[2]:
- De Liefde (Charity),
- Het Geloof (Faith),
- De Trouw (Fidelity)
- Blyde Boodschop (Good News).
In Japan he found favour with the Shogun Ieyasu and helped establish an English/Dutch trading settlement there. He was given the name Miura Anjin ("the pilot of Miura" in Japanese) and when he diied in 1620 at the age of 55 was buried in Hikado.
[3]. The character John Blackthorne in James Clavell's novel Shogun, is loosely based upon his life.
