William Adams - First Ever Western Samurai, Birthday and Childhood
William Adams's Personal Details
William Adams was an English navigator, the first Englishman who traveled to Japan and became a Western Samurai
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 24, 1564 |
| Died on | May 16, 1620 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Miscellaneous, Explorers, First Ever Western Samurai |
| Spouses | Oyuki |
| Siblings | Thomas |
| Known as | Anjin Miura |
| Childrens | Joseph, Susanna |
| Birth Place | Gillingham |
| Religion | Protestant |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Libra |
| Born in | Gillingham |
| Famous as | First ever Western Samurai |
| Died at Age | 55 |
William Adams's photo
Who is William Adams?
William Adams was an English navigator, the first Englishman who traveled to Japan and became a Western Samurai. He was a well-trained shipbuilder who also possessed the knowledge about trade and astronomy. Soon after completing his apprenticeship, he was appointed to work in Royal Navy and later went on several expeditions. But the most absorbing voyage which changed the course of his life arrived when he was appointed to serve as the pilot major in the Dutch expedition to Far East. The voyage consisted of five vessels but eventually each ship succumbed to its fate and could not reach the destination due to different reasons. Finally, his ship reached the coast of Japan where he was initially imprisoned by the authorities. But when the future shogun of Japan realized Adam’s true abilities, he instructed him to help in construction of big ships for Japan. Later, he was crowned as a Western Samurai and served as a key trade advisor to the shogun. In the following years, he played a vital role in the establishment of trading factories in Japan by the Dutch and British companies. He was also instrumental in chartering and captaining several ships to Southeast Asia. He was one of the most influential foreigners to reach Japan who played a significant role in developing the trade and economy of Japan.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on September 24, 1564, in Gillingham, Kent, England. He lost his father when he was 12, and was apprenticed in shipbuilding under Master Nicholas Diggins. He also gained knowledge about astronomy and navigation over the next twelve years.
Career
After completing his apprenticeship, he joined the Royal Navy where he assisted Sir Francis Drake. In 1588, he became the master of a supply ship, Richarde Dyffylde, for the British navy during the invasion of the Spanish Armada.
Later, he took part in an expedition to the Arctic as a pilot for the Barbary Company. The expedition was in search of a Northeast Passage along the coast of Siberia to the Far East and took about two years.
In 1598, he was appointed as pilot major with a fleet which was dispatched for a Dutch expedition to the Far East. The fleet consisted of five ships namely; the Hoop, the Liefde, the Geloof, the Trouw, and the Blijde Boodschap.
The ships started off their journey and took the route to the coast of Guinea, West Africa where they attacked the island of Annobón for supplies, and then moved on. But the bad weather disrupted their journey and only three ships--‘the Liefde’, ‘the Hoop’ and ‘the Trouw’—out of five, made it to the Straits of Magellan.
His ship, the Liefde, waited for the other ships until the spring of 1599 but out of the other two ships which had survived the disaster, only the Hoop joined them. Both the ships then sailed westwardly for Japan but in late February 1600, the Hoop was also claimed by a typhoon along with its entire crew.
In April 1600, his ship along with its sick and dying crew of about 20 people, anchored off the island of Kyushu in southern Japan. The ship was immediately seized and the sickly crew was imprisoned at Osaka Castle on orders by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the daimyo of Edo and future shogun.
While imprisoned, he met Tokugawa few times and faced interrogation about his skills and a variety of other topics. Tokugawa was impressed with his knowledge of ships, shipbuilding and mathematics.
In 1604, Tokugawa ordered him to help in construction of Japan's first Western-style ship. Adams supervised the production and the sailing ship was built at the harbour of Ito on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula. Following the construction, he became one of Tokugawa’s chief trade advisors and a diplomat of Japan.
He was crowned as a Western Samurai by the name of ‘Miura Anjin’. While serving as an advisor, he wrote letters on behalf of the shogun encouraging Dutch and English traders to come to Japan, and then officiated for the establishment of the Dutch East India Company in Japan.
In lieu of working as an advisor to the shogun, he received all the comforts in Japan. He was given generous revenues, a high priced estate, and an army of slaves to work under his command in his estate for the rest of his life.
In 1613, he also helped in the establishment of a factory for the British East India Company in Japan. Although the trade did not prove to be much profitable in the Japanese market, he became an employee of the East India Company at a yearly salary of 100 English Pounds.
From 1614 to 1619, he also undertook several expeditions traveling as far as Southeast Asia. He went to Siam in 1614 and 1615, and Cochinchina in 1617 and 1618, sometimes for developing the trade while at other times, for personal reasons.
Personal Life & Legacy
He was married to an English woman and had children before leaving for the expedition to the Far East. But he was unable to reach his family as the Japanese ruler forbade him to leave the country. Somehow he managed to send regular support payments to her after 1613 via the English and Dutch companies.
Later, he married a Japanese woman named Oyuki, the daughter of Magome Kageyu, a highway official. The couple was blessed with a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Susanna.
He died on May 16, 1620, at Hirado, north of Nagasaki, and was buried there.
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William Adams biography timelines
- // 24th Sep 1564He was born on September 24, 1564, in Gillingham, Kent, England. He lost his father when he was 12, and was apprenticed in shipbuilding under Master Nicholas Diggins. He also gained knowledge about astronomy and navigation over the next twelve years.
- // 1588After completing his apprenticeship, he joined the Royal Navy where he assisted Sir Francis Drake. In 1588, he became the master of a supply ship, Richarde Dyffylde, for the British navy during the invasion of the Spanish Armada.
- // 1598In 1598, he was appointed as pilot major with a fleet which was dispatched for a Dutch expedition to the Far East. The fleet consisted of five ships namely; the Hoop, the Liefde, the Geloof, the Trouw, and the Blijde Boodschap.
- // 1599 To Feb 1600His ship, the Liefde, waited for the other ships until the spring of 1599 but out of the other two ships which had survived the disaster, only the Hoop joined them. Both the ships then sailed westwardly for Japan but in late February 1600, the Hoop was also claimed by a typhoon along with its entire crew.
- // Apr 1600In April 1600, his ship along with its sick and dying crew of about 20 people, anchored off the island of Kyushu in southern Japan. The ship was immediately seized and the sickly crew was imprisoned at Osaka Castle on orders by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the daimyo of Edo and future shogun.
- // 1604In 1604, Tokugawa ordered him to help in construction of Japan's first Western-style ship. Adams supervised the production and the sailing ship was built at the harbour of Ito on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula. Following the construction, he became one of Tokugawa’s chief trade advisors and a diplomat of Japan.
- // 1613In 1613, he also helped in the establishment of a factory for the British East India Company in Japan. Although the trade did not prove to be much profitable in the Japanese market, he became an employee of the East India Company at a yearly salary of 100 English Pounds.
- // 1614 To 1619From 1614 to 1619, he also undertook several expeditions traveling as far as Southeast Asia. He went to Siam in 1614 and 1615, and Cochinchina in 1617 and 1618, sometimes for developing the trade while at other times, for personal reasons.
- // 16th May 1620He died on May 16, 1620, at Hirado, north of Nagasaki, and was buried there.
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William Adams's FAQ
What is William Adams birthday?
William Adams was born at 1564-09-24
When was William Adams died?
William Adams was died at 1620-05-16
Where was William Adams died?
William Adams was died in Hirado
Which age was William Adams died?
William Adams was died at age 55
Where is William Adams's birth place?
William Adams was born in Gillingham
What is William Adams nationalities?
William Adams's nationalities is British
Who is William Adams spouses?
William Adams's spouses is Oyuki
Who is William Adams siblings?
William Adams's siblings is Thomas
Who is William Adams childrens?
William Adams's childrens is Joseph, Susanna
What is William Adams's religion?
William Adams's religion is Protestant
What is William Adams's sun sign?
William Adams is Libra
How famous is William Adams?
William Adams is famouse as First ever Western Samurai