Jan Valckenburgh (born 1623 – 8 July 1667) was a civil servant of the Dutch West India Company. Valckenburgh began as a simple assistant-trader, but managed to make career up to one of the highest ranks, that of Director-General of the Dutch Gold Coast, twice.
Born into a family of modest means, Valckenburg was baptized in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam on 2 April 1623. His father, Paulus Paulusz Valckenburgh was a basket weaver from Geleen, his mother Geertje Lamberts a housewife.
Valckenburgh became a commissioner in food supplies in Luanda in 1643 and returned to Amsterdam in 1649, after the recapture of Luanda by the Portuguese. It is likely that he married the same year to Dina Lems from Flushing, a daughter of former Governor of Dutch Brazil and later Luanda, Adriaen Lems.
Valckenburgh returned to West-Africa in 1652 when he was installed as fiscal on the Gold Coast. In Elmina, he had a relationship with mulatto Helena Correa, who was also the mistress of the previous Director-General. A son from this relationship was born in 1653. Three years later, Valckenburgh himself became Director-General.
After the end of his first term, Valkenburgh returns to Amsterdam in 1659, where he buys Keizersgracht number 113, becoming a neighbour of his Gold Coast colleague Hendrik Carloff. In 1660, his son Jacobus is born, and in 1662, his daughter Cornelia. On 5 September 1662, he leaves Amsterdam again, however, for his second term as Director-General on the Gold Coast. Due to kidney problems, he is relieved of his duties on 2 June 1667, and a month later, on 8 July, Valckenburgh dies.
PortraitEdit
Valckenburgh's wife Dina Lems by Daniel Vertangen.
During his leave in Amsterdam between 1659 and 1662, Valckenburgh commissioned a portrait of himself and his wife with the painter Daniel Vertangen. In 2002 it was considered the only painting of a Director-General of the Gold Goast in service of the Dutch West India Company,[1] but a portrait of Director-General Jan Pranger has been identified since as well. He is painted with a black house slave and with Fort Elmina on the background.[2]
Both portraits were bought by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 2002.[1]
ReferencesEdit
^ ab"Rijksmuseum koopt Vertangens visie op WIC-directeur". Trouw. 2002-04-30. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
^"Jan Valckenburgh". Rijksmuseum. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
September 01, 2023
valckenburgh, born, 1623, july, 1667, civil, servant, dutch, west, india, company, valckenburgh, began, simple, assistant, trader, managed, make, career, highest, ranks, that, director, general, dutch, gold, coast, twice, director, general, dutch, gold, coasti. Jan Valckenburgh born 1623 8 July 1667 was a civil servant of the Dutch West India Company Valckenburgh began as a simple assistant trader but managed to make career up to one of the highest ranks that of Director General of the Dutch Gold Coast twice Jan ValckenburghDirector General of the Dutch Gold CoastIn office 23 December 1662 2 June 1667Preceded byDirck WilreSucceeded byHuybert van OngerdonkIn office 24 January 1656 27 April 1659Preceded byJacob RuyghaverSucceeded byCasper van HeussenPersonal detailsBorn1623Amsterdam NetherlandsDied8 July 1667Elmina Dutch Gold CoastSpouseDina LemsBiography EditBorn into a family of modest means Valckenburg was baptized in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam on 2 April 1623 His father Paulus Paulusz Valckenburgh was a basket weaver from Geleen his mother Geertje Lamberts a housewife Valckenburgh became a commissioner in food supplies in Luanda in 1643 and returned to Amsterdam in 1649 after the recapture of Luanda by the Portuguese It is likely that he married the same year to Dina Lems from Flushing a daughter of former Governor of Dutch Brazil and later Luanda Adriaen Lems Valckenburgh returned to West Africa in 1652 when he was installed as fiscal on the Gold Coast In Elmina he had a relationship with mulatto Helena Correa who was also the mistress of the previous Director General A son from this relationship was born in 1653 Three years later Valckenburgh himself became Director General After the end of his first term Valkenburgh returns to Amsterdam in 1659 where he buys Keizersgracht number 113 becoming a neighbour of his Gold Coast colleague Hendrik Carloff In 1660 his son Jacobus is born and in 1662 his daughter Cornelia On 5 September 1662 he leaves Amsterdam again however for his second term as Director General on the Gold Coast Due to kidney problems he is relieved of his duties on 2 June 1667 and a month later on 8 July Valckenburgh dies Portrait Edit nbsp Valckenburgh s wife Dina Lems by Daniel Vertangen During his leave in Amsterdam between 1659 and 1662 Valckenburgh commissioned a portrait of himself and his wife with the painter Daniel Vertangen In 2002 it was considered the only painting of a Director General of the Gold Goast in service of the Dutch West India Company 1 but a portrait of Director General Jan Pranger has been identified since as well He is painted with a black house slave and with Fort Elmina on the background 2 Both portraits were bought by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 2002 1 References Edit a b Rijksmuseum koopt Vertangens visie op WIC directeur Trouw 2002 04 30 Retrieved 15 April 2012 Jan Valckenburgh Rijksmuseum Retrieved 19 April 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jan Valckenburgh amp oldid 1103138415, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
