William Adams (pilot)
English navigator who travelled to Japan (1564–1620) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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William Adams (Japanese: ウィリアム・アダムス, Hepburn: Uwiriamu Adamusu, kyūjitai: ウヰリアム・アダムス; 24 September 1564 – 16 May 1620), better known in Japan as Miura Anjin (三浦按針, 'the pilot of Miura'), was an English navigator who, in 1600, became the first Englishman to reach Japan. He did so on a trading ship called De Liefde [nl][3] under the leadership of Jacob Quaeckernaeck; it was the only vessel reaching Japan from a five-ship expedition launched by a company of Rotterdam merchants[3] (a voorcompagnie, or predecessor of the Dutch East India Company).[4] Adams was among the few survivors of the expedition who reached Japan. For more than a decade after, the authorities did not allow Adams and his second mate Jan Joosten to leave the country. Earlier, they did permit Quaeckernaeck and Melchior van Santvoort to return to the Dutch Republic to establish formal trade relations. Adams and Joosten settled in Japan, where both became hatamoto.[lower-alpha 1][6]
William Adams | |
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Born | (1564-09-24)24 September 1564 |
Died | 16 May 1620(1620-05-16) (aged 55) |
Resting place | William Adams Memorial Park, Sakigata Hill, Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan |
Nationality | English |
Other names | Miura Anjin (三浦按針) |
Citizenship | Japanese |
Occupation | Navigator |
Known for |
|
Title | Miura Anjin |
Term | 1600–1620 |
Successor | Joseph Adams |
Spouses | Mary Hyn (m. 1589)Oyuki (m. 1613) |
Children | John Adams (son) Deliverance Adams (daughter) Joseph Adams (son) Susanna Adams (daughter)[1][2] |
Soon after Adams' arrival in Japan, he became advisor to the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Under his authority, Adams directed the construction of Western-style ships. He was later part of Japan's approving the establishment of trading factories by the Netherlands. He became highly involved in Japan's red seal trade, chartering and serving as captain of four expeditions to Southeast Asia.
He was recognized as one of the most influential foreigners in Japan during early 17th century.[7] Among Adam's legacies, he promoted a policy of religious intolerance, particularly anti-Catholic, which would later become a centuries-long policy of religious persecution primarily against Europeans and Christians of any denomination, as well as against Japanese converts.[8][9][10] He was also one of the influences of Japan's isolationist policy, which meant the closure of the entry and exit of people from the nation and blocking trade with foreign countries.[11]
Although eventually given permission to return home to England, he ultimately decided to stay in Japan where he died at the age of 55. His children Joseph and Susanna were expelled to Jakarta (Indonesia)[12] and disappear from historical records at that time.[11]