William Adams (sailor, born 1564)

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

William Adams (sailor, born 1564)

Role / Field:

English navigator who reached Japan in 1600, becoming a key figure in early Japanese history.

Born:

1564-09-24

Died:

1620-05-16

Century / Era:

1564s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

William Adams (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 was later granted hatamoto status, and was recognised as one of the most influential foreigners in Japan during the early 17th century. He arrived in Japan as one of the few survivors of the ship Liefde under the leadership of Jacob Quaeckernaeck. It was the only vessel to reach Japan from a five-ship expedition launched by a company of Rotterdam merchants (a voorcompagnie, or predecessor, of the Dutch East India Company). Soon after his arrival in Japan, Adams and his second mate Jan Joosten became advisors to shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Career & Major Achievements

Among Adams's legacies was his promotion of a policy of religious intolerance aimed particularly at Catholics, which later developed into a centuries-long policy of religious persecution directed primarily against Europeans and Christians of all denominations, eventually extending to Japanese converts as well. He also influenced the development of Japan's isolationist sakoku policy, under which interactions with other countries were severely restricted, almost all foreign nationals were barred from entering Japan, and Japanese commoners were prohibited from leaving the country. For more than a decade, the Tokugawa authorities did not allow Adams and Joosten to leave Japan. Although he was eventually granted permission to return to England, Adams chose to remain in Japan, where he died at the age of 55. His Japan-born children, Joseph and Susanna, were likely expelled to Batavia in 1635, when Tokugawa Iemitsu closed Japan to foreign trade; after that, they disappear from the historical record.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Adams was born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564. His father died when he was twelve, and he was apprenticed to shipyard owner Master Nicholas Diggins at Limehouse for the seafaring life. He spent the next twelve years learning shipbuilding, astronomy, and navigation before entering the Royal Navy. With England at war with Spain, Adams served in the Royal Navy under Sir Francis Drake. He saw naval service against the Spanish Armada in 1588 as master of the Richarde Dyffylde, a resupply ship carrying ammunition and food for the English fleet.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1564 (1564-09-24): Birth of William Adams (sailor, born 1564) — English navigator who reached Japan in 1600, becoming a key figure in early Japanese history.
2. 1588: 1588 Milestone — He saw naval service against the Spanish Armada in 1588 as master of the Richarde Dyffylde, a resupply ship carrying ammunition and food for the English fleet.
3. 1620 (1620-05-16): Passing & Historical Legacy — William Adams (sailor, born 1564) passed away on 1620-05-16, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
4. 1635: 1635 Milestone — His Japan-born children, Joseph and Susanna, were likely expelled to Batavia in 1635, when Tokugawa Iemitsu closed Japan to foreign trade; after that, they disappear from the historical record.

Notable Quotes by William Adams (sailor, born 1564)

“I am a Kentish-man, borne in a Towne called Gillingham...”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: William Adams (sailor, born 1564)

True or False: “William Adams was the first Englishman to reach Japan.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He arrived in Japan in 1600 as one of the survivors from the ship Liefde.

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Frequently Asked Questions about William Adams (sailor, born 1564)