William Adams

William Adams (September 24, 1564–May 16, 1620), also known in Japanese as Anjin-sama (???, "Mr Pilot") and Miura Anjin (????, "the pilot of Miura"), was an English navigator who went to Japan, and is believed to be the first Briton ever to reach Japan.

Early life

William Adams was born at Gillingham, in Kent, England. After losing his father at the age of 12, he was apprenticed to shipyard owner Master Nicholas Diggins at Limehouse for the seafaring life. He spent the next 12 years learning shipbuilding, astronomy and navigation afterwards entering the British navy.

Related Topics:
Gillingham - Kent - England - Nicholas Diggins - Limehouse - Shipbuilding - Astronomy - Navigation - British navy

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Adams served in the Royal Navy under Sir Francis Drake, and saw naval service against the Spanish Armada in 1588 as master of the Richarde Dyffylde.

Related Topics:
Francis Drake - Spanish Armada - 1588

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Adams then became a pilot for the company Barbary Company. During this service, according to Jesuit sources, he took part in an expedition to the Arctic that lasted about two years in search of a Northeast Passage along the coast of Siberia to the Far East.

Related Topics:
Barbary Company - Arctic - Northeast Passage - Siberia - Far East

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?I am a Kentish man, born in a town called Gillingham, two English miles from Rochester, one mile from Chattam, where the King's ships do lie: from the age of twelve years old, I was brought up in Limehouse near London, being Apprentice twelve years to Master Nicholas Diggins; and myself have served for Master and Pilot in her Majesty's ships; and about eleven or twelve years have served the Worshipfull Company of the Barbary Merchants, until the Indish traffic from Holland began, in which Indish traffic I was desirous to make a little experience of the small knowledge which God had given me. So, in the year of our Lord 1598, I was hired for Pilot Major of a fleet of five sails, which was made ready by the Dutch Indish Company?. (1611 Letter, William Adams)

Related Topics:
Gillingham - Rochester - Chattam - London - 1598 - Dutch Indish Company

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