Originally a merchant in Edinburgh, he was sent to East Jersey to act as an agent to recruit men to settle there.

Royal authorities attempted to remove the proprietors from power and create a large colony of New England.

One of the reasons which caused Penn to return to England was the bill before the House of Lords to change proprietorship to Royal Governors.

Although this was not approved, after the death of King William III, an act passed requiring Royal assent to persons named as (deputy) governors.

[1] Hamilton also made preparations for organizing a defensive force in the province to assuage the group in Parliament who were questioning the fitness of the Quaker led Assembly to help defend the colonies in North America, at this time.