Cornelis Caesar
Encyclopedia
Cornelis Caesar was a Dutch
merchant and Dutch East India Company
official, serving as Governor of Formosa
from 1653 to 1656.
, Caesar arrived for his first position in Batavia in 1629. During his first spell in Asia he worked in Quinam, Hirado and finally Tayouan
(the capital of Dutch Formosa), rising to Chief Merchant (opperkoopman). In 1641 he resigned his position in Formosa to take up another in Hirado, but en route the Dutch were forced to relocate their factory to the artificial island of Dejima
by the Japanese government. His work took him back to Formosa, then again to Japan, where he ordered a military action on the west coast of Luzon
, which at the time was under enemy (Spanish) control. In 1647 he requested leave, which was granted, and he returned to the Netherlands.
was to be recalled from Formosa in 1653 it looked as if Carel Hartsinck was set to take over as Governor
of the island. However, Hartsinck's patron Governor-General Carel Reyniersz
died on April 18 that year, with his successor preferring Caesar as the new Governor of Formosa. Caesar took office on May 24, becoming the 11th Dutch Governor of the colony. He served for three years, being relieved on June 30 1656 by Frederick Coyett
, who was to be the last Governor. Caesar returned to Batavia, where he died on October 5 1657.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
merchant and Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
official, serving as Governor of Formosa
Governor of Formosa
The Governor of Formosa was the head of government during the Dutch colonial period in Taiwan, which lasted from 1624 to 1662. Appointed by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia , the Governor of Formosa was empowered to legislate, collect taxes, wage war and declare peace on...
from 1653 to 1656.
Early career
After joining the Dutch East India CompanyDutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, Caesar arrived for his first position in Batavia in 1629. During his first spell in Asia he worked in Quinam, Hirado and finally Tayouan
Anping
Anping may refer to:*Anping , a historical Chinese surname*Princess Anping, the name of several princesses in Imperial China-Mainland China:*Anping County, of Hengshui, HebeiTowns----Pillar Industry: Wire Mesh----...
(the capital of Dutch Formosa), rising to Chief Merchant (opperkoopman). In 1641 he resigned his position in Formosa to take up another in Hirado, but en route the Dutch were forced to relocate their factory to the artificial island of Dejima
Dejima
was a small fan-shaped artificial island built in the bay of Nagasaki in 1634. This island, which was formed by digging a canal through a small peninsula, remained as the single place of direct trade and exchange between Japan and the outside world during the Edo period. Dejima was built to...
by the Japanese government. His work took him back to Formosa, then again to Japan, where he ordered a military action on the west coast of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, which at the time was under enemy (Spanish) control. In 1647 he requested leave, which was granted, and he returned to the Netherlands.
Governor of Formosa
After returning to Asia in 1651, Caesar was stationed in Batavia. When Nicolas VerburgNicolas Verburg
Nicolas Verburg was the Dutch Governor of Formosa from 1649 to 1653.-References:...
was to be recalled from Formosa in 1653 it looked as if Carel Hartsinck was set to take over as Governor
Governor of Formosa
The Governor of Formosa was the head of government during the Dutch colonial period in Taiwan, which lasted from 1624 to 1662. Appointed by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia , the Governor of Formosa was empowered to legislate, collect taxes, wage war and declare peace on...
of the island. However, Hartsinck's patron Governor-General Carel Reyniersz
Carel Reyniersz
Carel Reyniersz was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1650 until 1653.Reyniersz was born in Amsterdam in 1604 . He left for the Indies in 1627 as Upperbuyer on the Dutch Coromandel...
died on April 18 that year, with his successor preferring Caesar as the new Governor of Formosa. Caesar took office on May 24, becoming the 11th Dutch Governor of the colony. He served for three years, being relieved on June 30 1656 by Frederick Coyett
Frederick Coyett
Frederick Coyett , born in Stockholm or Moscow in 1615?, buried in Amsterdam, October 17, 1687, was a Swedish nobleman and the last colonial governor for the Dutch colony of Formosa...
, who was to be the last Governor. Caesar returned to Batavia, where he died on October 5 1657.