William Adams
Adams, William (1564?-1620), the first Englishman to enter Japan. In 1598 Adams was engaged as pilot of a fleet of five Dutch vessels bound for the East Indies. The fleet was scattered by storms and Adams landed at Kyushu, Japan, in 1600. The shogun (military governor) Iyeyasu was impressed by Adams' knowledge of ships and navigation and employed him as a shipbuilder and adviser. He promoted Dutch and English trade with Japan and lived there the rest of his life. The Japanese called him Anjin Sama (Mr. Pilot) and gave him an estate in Yokosuka and a pension.