William Penn

William Penn, born October 14, 1644 in London, England, is a name that is familiar to anyone living in Pennsylvania. William Penn was a Quaker and an early supporter of democracy and religious freedom. Penn inherited the lands of Pennsylvania and Delaware from his father who had received them from James, the Duke of York and future king of England. In these newfound lands, Penn supported his ideals of democracy and religious freedom and accomplished deeds such as founding the city of Philadelphia.

Back in England, being a Quaker was heavily frowned upon, and even a crime in the eyes of the theocratic monarch. While on trial for being a Quaker, however, William Penn’s jury declared him innocent because they didn’t believe that being a Quaker was criminal. The judge tried to threaten and coerce the jury into declaring Penn guilty, but to no avail. The judge eventually grew fed up with the jury’s antics and threw them in jail along with Penn. From jail, the jury used their legal skill to win their freedom and the protection of all juries from the influence if the judge, a core part of our own legal process today.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko

Thaddeus Kosciuszko was born in Poland on the 4th of January, 1746 and passed away October 15th, 1815 in Switzerland. Kosciuszko attended military schools in Poland then studied engineering in France, quickly proving to have a proficiency for it. Upon arriving in  America in 1776 to aid the revolution, the Continental Congress named him Colonel of Engineers with his first task being to fortify Philadelphia against any potential attack by the British. After the fortifications were complete, Kosciuszko was sent to New York under the command of General Horatio Gates. General Gates commissioned Kosciuszko to devise a defensive strategy for his forces at Saratoga. Gates’ and Kosciuszko’s victory at Saratoga proved to be a crucial victory for the American revolutionaries. Impressed by Kosciuszko’s earlier successes, General George Washington assigned Kosciuszko to the vital task of planning the defenses at West Point. Kosciuszko’s handiwork here was considered impregnable by many. With the war ending in an American victory, Kosciuszko, who had now made the rank of Brigadier General, was awarded US Citizenship and a medal for his services during the Revolution.

John Wilkes

John Wilkes, namesake of the WIlkes half of Wilkes-Barre was born on October 17th, 1725 and died December 26th 1797. Wilkes was an English politician with a very intriguing career. Wilkes was a member of the Hell-fire Club, a very notorious and influential group of people who met in the ruins of an abbey and occasionally performed the Black Mass.

For a time, Wilkes was a member of Parliament but made the mistake of criticizing influential politicians. The aggrieved politicians used things such as an obscene play Wilkes had written to get him booted out of office and Parliament. Wilkes repeatedly tried to get elected to public office, and occasionally succeeded, but his inflammatory political statements usually got him kicked out of the office he had won.

At this point, anyone would be wondering how such a specimen was honored by having a city named after him. The fact that during his brief tenures in Parliament he was an ardent supporter of the American colonies, coupled with his popular martyrdom caused by his repeated expulsion from public office,  Wilkes was quite popular with the colonists. When founding Wilkes-Barre, the support of the colonies by the hands of John Wilkes and Isaac Barre was clearly on the mind of the founders.

Isaac Barre

Isaac Barre, born circa 1726, was a member of the British Parliament who showed unwavering support for the American colonies during his tenure there. Barre originally studied law at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, graduating in 1745, but within a year of practicing it, he grew tired of law. Mr Barre chose to join the military instead. Barre notably served on the General Staff of General James Wolfe during the Battle of Quebec (1759 on the American front of the Seven Years War. During this battle, James Wolfe died and Isaac Barre was struck by a bullet under his right eye, surviving but disfigured and blind in the aforementioned eye. After General Wolfe died, Barre left the military and turned his interests to politics, being elected to Parliament on the 5th of December, 1761. During his time in Parliament, Barre did his best to serve the American colonies which he defended at the Battle of Quebec. In 1764, Barre, Earl Shelburne, and William Pitt formed a political alliance to attempt to defend John Wilkes from mistreatment at the hands of the Ministry. Barre also opposed many acts which should be familiar any U.S. History student, such as the Stamp and Townshend Acts. By 1783, his old wound under his right eye caused him to go fully blind and in 190 he resigned his seat in Parliament. Isaac Barre died, ending his long and memorable career on July 20th, 1802.

John S. Fine

John S. Fine was born in Nanticoke on April 10th, 1893 and died on May 21st, 1978. Mr. Fine served in the military during the First World War and was governor of Pennsylvania from January 16th, 1951 to January 18th, 1955. Fine was the first governor of Pennsylvania to have his induction televised. While in office, Fine had the momentous task of managing Post World War II Pennsylvania and accommodating for the rapidly growing generation of “Baby-Boomers.” John S. Fine was also only the the second governor of Pennsylvania to be widowed while in office; his wife died on April 23rd, 1951. Today, Mr. Fine’s remains can be found laid to rest at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Nanticoke.