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 Liefde[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] Among the few survivors of the expedition who reached Japan, for more than a decade, 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, and the two men became Western samurai.[5]
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 a key advisor to the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Under his authority, Adams directed construction of the first Western-style ships in the country. He was later part of Japan's approving the establishment of trading factories by the Netherlands. Although eventually given permission to return home to England, he ultimately decided to stay in Japan. He became highly involved in Japan's red seal trade, chartering and serving as captain of four expeditions to Southeast Asia. He died in Japan at age 55. He has been recognized as one of the most influential foreigners in Japan during this period.[6]