William Adams was an English navigator, the first Englishman who traveled to Japan and became a Western Samurai. He was a well-trained shipbuilder who also possessed the knowledge about trade and astronomy. Soon after completing his apprenticeship, he was appointed to work in Royal Navy and later went on several expeditions. But the most absorbing voyage which changed the course of his life arrived when he was appointed to serve as the pilot major in the Dutch expedition to Far East. The voyage consisted of five vessels but eventually each ship succumbed to its fate and could not reach the destination due to different reasons. Finally, his ship reached the coast of Japan where he was initially imprisoned by the authorities. But when the future shogun of Japan realized Adam’s true abilities, he instructed him to help in construction of big ships for Japan. Later, he was crowned as a Western Samurai and served as a key trade advisor to the shogun. In the following years, he played a vital role in the establishment of trading factories in Japan by the Dutch and British companies. He was also instrumental in chartering and captaining several ships to Southeast Asia. He was one of the most influential foreigners to reach Japan who played a significant role in developing the trade and economy of Japan.