Willem van Outhoorn | |
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.jpg) Portrait of Willem van Outhoorn | |
| Governor-General of theDutch East Indies | |
| In office 24 September 1691 – 15 August 1704 | |
| Preceded by | Johannes Camphuys |
| Succeeded by | Joan van Hoorn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1635-05-04)4 May 1635 |
| Died | 27 November 1720(1720-11-27) (aged 85) |
Willem van Outhoorn (4 May 1635 – 27 November 1720) wasGovernor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1691 to 1704. He was born and died in the Dutch East Indies.
Willem van Outhoorn (orOudthoorn) was born on 4 May 1635 atLarike onAmbon Island inIndonesia. His father was aDutch East India Company (VOC) Buyer (koopman) there. He was sent to theNetherlands to studyLaw at theUniversity of Leiden. On 28 November 1657 he graduated in Law.
In 1659 van Outhoorn returned to the Indies, employed as Underbuyer (onderkoopman). He was to remain in the East for the rest of his life. Even a journey to nearbyBantam was a journey too far for him. In 1662 he became a member of the Council of Justice (Raad van Justitie) inBatavia. In 1672 he became Receiver-General (ontvanger-generaal), and in 1673 he became Vice-President of the Council of Justice. In 1678 he was charged with a mission toBantam and he became an extraordinary member of the DutchCouncil of the Indies. He was named a full Counsellor, being confirmed in that post in 1681. He became President of the Council of Justice in 1682 and in 1689 President of the College van Heemraden (dealing with estate boundaries, roads, etc.). That same year he was appointed First Counsellor and Director-General of the Dutch East Indies.
On 17 December 1690 van Outhoorn was appointedGovernor-General of the Dutch East Indies, taking over fromJohannes Camphuys on 24 September 1691. After ten years, theSeventeen Lords (Heren XVII) granted his wish to be honourably relieved of his duties, but it was 15 August 1704 before he could hand over all his official functions to his successor,Joan van Hoorn.
He requested that he be allowed to remain on his estate just outside Batavia. Such requests were generally not allowed, for fear that retired governors would interfere with the work of their successors. However, because he was in ill-health and was over 70, he was allowed to stay. He died at age 85 on 27 November 1720 in Batavia.
His term of office was not marked by many important developments or events. At the end of his term,Amangkurat IISultan of Mataram died. As theVOC did not recognise his son as successor, a long war broke out just before Van Outhoorn left office. In 1693 the French overranPondicherry. During his time, efforts were made to establishcoffee growing inJava. The first harvest failed because of flooding, but the next harvest had more success.
Van Outhoorn was not a very strong ruler. Corruption and nepotism, in which he was also involved, became more blatant during his time. His son-in-lawJoan van Hoorn, married to his daughter Susanna, succeeded him as Governor-General.
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| Government appointed (1800–1948) |
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