John Penn, 1729–95, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, b. London. A grandson of William Penn, he was the last proprietary official of the colony. He was under the domination of the Penn family in his two administrations (1763–71, 1773–76). During that time Pennsylvania was torn by a bitter struggle between those who favored proprietary government and those who sought to end it. Penn lost power when the proprietary government was displaced (1776) during the American Revolution. He yielded to the course of events, however, and remained in Philadelphia until his death.

John Penn, 1740?–1788, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Caroline co., Va. A lawyer, Penn moved (1774) to North Carolina and was (1775–77, 1778–80) a delegate to the Continental Congress.