Cornelis Simonsz | |
|---|---|
| 16th Governor of Dutch Ceylon | |
| In office 11 May 1703 – 22 November 1707 (1703-05-11 –1707-11-22) | |
| Preceded by | Gerrit de Heere |
| Succeeded by | Hendrik Becker |
| 1stFiscal Independent of the Cape Colony | |
| In office October 1690 – November 1694 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Johan Blesius |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cornelis Jan Simonsz c. (1661-10-14)14 October 1661 Enkhuizen,Dutch Republic |
| Died | c. 1727(1727-00-00) (aged 65–66) Utrecht, Dutch Republic |
Other name(s) | Cornelis Joan Simons |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | Utrecht University |
| Employer | Dutch East India Company |
Cornelis Jan Simonsz (c. 14 October 1661 –c. 1727) was aGovernor of Dutch Ceylon from 11 May 1703 until 22 November 1707.[1]
Simonsz's exact birth day is unknown, but he is known to have been baptized on 14 October 1661 inEnkhuizen. He studied law and married Agnes Anna Emilius in 1683. Hired by theDutch East India Company, Simonsz sailed fromAmsterdam on 20 May 1690, to arrive at theDutch Cape Colony on 3 October, where he was installed as its fiscal independent a week later. He left the Cape in November 1694, to become treasurer ofDutch Coromandel on the Indian southeast coast.
In 1701, he left forBatavia in theDutch East Indies to serve as vice-president of the council of justice. Two years later, he was elected to the office ofGovernor of Dutch Ceylon and returned to the Indian subcontinent.[2]
Simons instructed and directed thedissava ofJaffnapatnam (Claes Isaaksz) to codify theThesavalamai ("The Customs of the Land"), which was finished in 1707, and to this day applies to mostTamils in northernSri Lanka. Simons also initiated building the Leper Hospital in Hendala in theGampaha District, which was finished in 1708 under his successor Becker.[3]
After his governorship he remained extraordinary member of the Raad van Indië, and, in 1708, he has the title Commissary of theCape of Good Hope. He left that year from Ceylon via the Cape to the Dutch Republic as admiral of a returning fleet of 18 ships, carrying a cargo with an estimated value of five million guilders.
He re-established himself in the city ofUtrecht, where he died in 1727.[2][4]
| Colonial offices | ||
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| Preceded by | 16thGovernor of Dutch Ceylon 1703–1707 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
