William Adams (24 September 1564 – 16 May 1620), was an English navigator. He was the first Englishman to visit Japan. Adams later became samurai status.
He was born in Gillingham, Kent, England. William's father died when he was at the age of just 12 years old. He apprenticed to a shipwright, and studied shipbuilding, astronomy, and navigation. He joined the Royal Navy during Anglo-Spanish War. He served in the Royal Navy under Sir Francis Drake. He became a pilot for the Barbary Company, a trading company established by Queen Elizabeth I of England.
In 1598, Adams shipped as pilot major with a five-ship fleet. The fleet was owned by a company of Rotterdam merchants (Dutch East India Company). The fleet went from the isle of Texel, North Holland to the Eastern world.
