Johannes Camphuys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johannes Camphuys
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Portrait of Johannes Campuys by Gerrit van Goor, 1685
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| Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies |
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| In office 11 January 1684 – 24 September 1691 |
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| Preceded by | Cornelis Speelman |
| Succeeded by | Willem van Outhoorn |
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| Born | 18 July 1634 Haarlem, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 18 July 1695 (aged 61) Batavia, Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) |
Johannes Camphuys (born July 18, 1634 – died July 18, 1695) was an important leader in the Dutch East Indies. He served as the Governor-General from 1684 to 1691. This was the highest position in the Dutch trading empire in Asia. Camphuys was born in Haarlem, a city in the Dutch Republic (which is now the Netherlands).
Contents
Becoming a Leader in the East Indies
Johannes Camphuys started his journey to Asia in 1652. He was just a young man then. His first ship unfortunately sank near the Shetland Islands. Luckily, he survived and tried again.
He arrived in Batavia (which is now Jakarta, Indonesia) in 1653. He began working as a clerk. This was a starting job in the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The VOC was a powerful trading company.
Rising Through the Ranks
Camphuys worked hard and moved up quickly. After 11 years, he became a merchant. This meant he was involved in important trading deals. In 1670, he became a commander.
He also served as the head of the VOC trading post in Dejima, Japan. This was a very special role. He did this job three times. It showed how much the company trusted him.
Later, he became a member of the Council of Justice. This council made important decisions. By 1681, he was a full member of the Council of the Dutch East Indies. This council helped run the entire Dutch colony.
Leading the Dutch East Indies
On January 11, 1684, Johannes Camphuys was chosen as the new Governor-General. He took over from Cornelis Speelman. This was a huge responsibility. He was in charge of all Dutch activities in the East Indies.
Challenges and Successes
Not everyone agreed with his appointment at first. Some people in the council didn't fully support him. But the main leaders in the Netherlands backed him up. This allowed him to lead in his own way.
During his time as Governor-General, the region was mostly peaceful. He worked to keep things calm. One important event was a treaty with Bantam in 1684. Bantam was an important kingdom in the area.
Camphuys was known for being fair. However, he found it hard to stop corruption among some officials. He cared a lot about science and learning. He supported scientists whenever he could. He even wrote about the founding of Batavia.
Stepping Down from Power
After several years, Camphuys decided to resign. He asked to step down many times. On September 24, 1691, he handed over his position. Willem van Outhoorn became the new Governor-General.
Life After Leadership
After leaving his high office, Camphuys stayed in Batavia. He had a special house built there. It was designed in a Japanese style. He also collected many different animals from across the Indies.
He kept in touch with other scholars, like Rumphius. Rumphius was a famous naturalist on Ambon. Johannes Camphuys passed away on his 61st birthday in 1695. He was buried in the Dutch church in Batavia.
Travels to Japan
Johannes Camphuys made several trips to Japan. At that time, the Dutch East India Company had only one trading post in Japan. It was on a small island called Dejima in the harbor of Nagasaki.
Camphuys was sent there as the "Opperhoofd." This means he was the chief negotiator and officer. He held this important role three times:
- October 22, 1671 – November 12, 1672
- October 29, 1673 – October 19, 1674
- November 7, 1675 – October 27, 1676
Remembering Johannes Camphuys
Johannes Camphuys died in Batavia, which is now Jakarta. He is remembered in the Netherlands. There are streets named after him in the cities of Utrecht and The Hague.
See also
- VOC Opperhoofden in Japan
