PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — You may remember William Penn, Pennsylvania’s first governor, who founded the state, but did you know that his second wife also led the colony?

Who was Hannah Penn?

Hannah Penn was the daughter of Quaker merchants in Bristol, England. She was born in 1671. Her parents had nine children in total, however, all but Hannah passed away. Her family ran a grocery store and button-making company and due to the fact she was the only heir she was taught accounting and management skills. This was to ensure that she would be able to run the companies once they passed or retired.

She would meet William Penn on a religious visit and soon a courtship would begin. In 1696, she would marry him in Bristol and become his second wife. She was 24 years younger than him and would give birth to nine children.

However, it wasn’t until 1699 that she first stepped in Philadelphia after an 8 week long voyage at sea.

How did she become Pennsylvania’s first female leader?

Throughout her marriage to William Penn, Hannah would often loan money to him to help with the debt that the province had. But she would take a much larger role when William suffered a series of strokes in England that left him paralyzed in 1712.

From England, Hannah would take over the province and deal with all the official business. Although, William Penn Jr., a son from Williams first marriage, did contest the will and attempted to gain control of the colony. Ultimately, Hannah was granted proprietorship of the colony.

She sent letters of advice and instruction to the governor in Pennsylvania. For six years before William’s death and eight years after she kept the state running. Even paying off her husbands debt and keeping the colony running.

She was the acting proprietor from 1712 until her death in 1726.

How is she recognized today?

In 1984, Former President Ronald Reagan declared both Hannah and William honorary citizens of the United States of America.

Hannah Callowhill Penn, William Penn’s wife, effectively administered the Province of Pennsylvania for six years and, like her husband, devoted her life to the pursuit of peace and justice.

To commemorate these lasting contributions of William Penn and Hannah Callowhill Penn to the founding of our Nation and the development of its principles, the Congress of the United States, by Senate Joint Resolution 80, approved October 19, 1984, authorized and requested the President to declare these persons honorary citizens of the United States of America.

Ronald Reagan said in Proclamation 5284

She was the first woman to have ever received this award. Besides being named a honorary citizen she also has a street named after her in Philadelphia.