, a governor of the Dutch East India settlements, was born at Kuilenburg.
, a governor of the Dutch
East India settlements, was born at Kuilenburg. He went,
in early life, in a low military capacity to India, where he
was chiefly employed in writing petitions for the soldiers;
but being afterwards promoted to a post under government, which required some skill in accounts, he became a
merchant, and afterwards accountant-general of the Dutch
settlements in India. In 1625, he was appointed a member of the supreme council, and in 1631 he returned to
Holland as commander of the India fleet. He remained
but a few months in Europe, and when he went back to
India many important offices devolved on him. In 1642,
he sent out two ships to explore the unknown countries to
the south, part of which, forming the southern extremity
of New Holland, was, in honour of him, distinguished by
the appellation of “Van Diemen’s Land.
” He died in
April