Pieter Teyler van der Hulst facts for kids
Pieter Teyler van der Hulst (born March 25, 1702 – died April 8, 1778) was a very rich Dutch businessman. He was a merchant and a banker. Pieter Teyler was a member of the Mennonite faith. He did not have any children. When he passed away, he left a huge amount of money, about two million florins. Today, that would be around 80 million Euros! He wanted this money to be used for religion, art, and science in his hometown. This amazing gift led to the creation of Teyler's Museum. He also started a special home called Teylers Hofje and gave money to people in his religious community.
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Pieter Teyler's Life Story
Pieter Teyler van der Hulst was born in Haarlem, a city in the Dutch Republic, on March 25, 1702.
Pieter Teyler was inspired by the ideas of the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a time when people in Scotland focused on new ways of thinking. His family came from wealthy Scottish merchants. His last name, Teyler, comes from the Scottish word "Tailor." In 1728, he married Helena Wynands Verschaave.
Pieter was an active member of the "Waterlander" Mennonite group. From 1750, he helped manage the city orphanage. He first became rich by trading silk and cloth. After 1763, he became even more active as a banker. He lent money to people in Haarlem. One person he lent money to was George Clifford III. Clifford was a rich merchant from Amsterdam. He was famous for supporting the scientist Carl Linnaeus. Bankers like Teyler and Clifford often supported art and science.
Pieter and his wife were very involved in the Haarlem Mennonite community. In 1752, they started a special housing complex called a hofje in Teyler's name. Unlike some other hofjes, people living there did not have to be Mennonites.
In the 1700s, most of the powerful people in cities like Amsterdam and Haarlem were Protestant. Other groups, like Roman Catholics and Mennonites, could not join certain organizations. One such group was the Dutch Society of Science. This society started in Haarlem in 1752. Its goal was to study all kinds of science. This society later moved close to Teyler's Museum. They have worked closely with Teyler's legacy ever since.
Pieter Teyler was influenced by local science groups. He was involved in starting the City Drawing School in 1772. He also helped other projects by lending large sums of money. This included new buildings for the Dutch Society of Science in 1777. He also helped create a College of Music in 1773.
Pieter Teyler's Collection
We don't know much about Pieter Teyler's first collection. When he died, he had many items. These included natural history objects, medals, drawings, and a large library. The people who managed his will sold some items to create the Oval room in the museum. Many other items were mixed with new things bought later. However, many parts of his collection are still important to the museum's goals. Over time, museum experts have put together much of his coin collection. Many paintings he bought for his home are still in their original places.
Pieter Teyler's Lasting Impact
In his will, written in 1756, Pieter Teyler said his collection and some of his money should start a foundation. This foundation was called Teylers Stichting. It was meant to help promote his interests.
Teyler's gift to Haarlem was split into two main groups. The first was Teylers First or Theological Society. This group focused on studying religion. The second was Teylers Second Society. This group focused on physics, poetry, history, drawing, and coins.
The people in charge of Teyler's will decided to create a place for learning and education. This place became Teylers Museum.
Pieter Teyler's old home in Haarlem is connected to Teyler's Museum. You can enter the museum from his house through a side door in the Oval room. Today, his house is known as the "Fundatiehuis." It is usually open only by appointment. It also opens once a year on "Monumentendag."
Images for kids
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The Vrouwe- en Antonie Gasthuys today. This was the first location of Teyler's hofje from 1752 to 1787.
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Teylers Hofje today. This grander version was built in 1787.
See also
- Teylers Stichting
- Teylers First Society
- Teylers Second Society
- Teylers Hofje
