Jacob Huydecoper | |
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Dutch envoy to theKingdom of Ashanti | |
In office 23 March 1838 – 31 March 1842 (1838-03-23 –1842-03-31) | |
Preceded by | Jacobus de Bruijn |
Succeeded by | Hendrik Severinus Pel |
Personal details | |
Born | Jacob Peter Huydecoper (1811-11-11)11 November 1811 Elmina,Dutch Gold Coast |
Died | 12 February 1845(1845-02-12) (aged 33) Elmina, Dutch Gold Coast |
Parent |
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Known for | Belanda Hitam recruitment |
Employer | Dutch East Indies Army |
Jacob Peter Huydecoper (11 November 1811 – 12 February 1845) was an early 19th-centuryElmina Euro-African civil servant and diplomat on theDutch Gold Coast.
Jacob Huydecoper was born inElmina toWillem Huydecoper and aFante woman named Akosewa Kombati.[1] He was a member of the prominent Afro-European Huydecoper family, which traces its ancestor toJan Pieter Theodoor Huydecoper, aDirector-General of the Dutch Gold Coast in the 18th century.
Huydecoper started his career in the colonial administration of theDutch Gold Coast in July 1832, when he was installed as a provisional assistant at Elmina. He became a regular assistant on 15 December 1836.
Huydecoper was charged with the recruitment of the so-calledBelanda Hitam, Gold Coastan andAkan recruitments for theRoyal Netherlands East Indies Army, at theAshanti capital ofKumasi, between 1838 and 1842.[1] With this move, he followed in the footstep of his father, who also was the Dutchenvoy at the Ashanti court between 1816 and 1817.
Huydecoper returned from Kumasi on 1 February 1842, and was honourably discharged of all his duties on 31 March 1842. Three years later, Huydecoper died in Elmina at the age of 33.[1]
Huydecoper is considered the initiator of theMethodist mission in Elmina, established in 1842, after he himself was converted to Christianity by The ReverendThomas Birch Freeman when the latter was stationed at Kumasi in 1839.[1]