Jan van Riebeeck

Johan Anthoniszoon "Jan" van Riebeeck (21 April, 1619–18 January, 1677), was a Dutch colonial administrator. He was born in Culemborg in the Netherlands as the son of a surgeon. He grew up in Schiedam, where he married Maria de la Quellerie on 28 March 1649. She died in Malacca, now part of Malaysia, on 2 November 1664, at the age of 35.

Related Topics:
21 April - 1619 - 18 January - 1677 - Dutch - Culemborg - Schiedam - Maria de la Quellerie - 28 March - 1649 - Malacca - Malaysia - 2 November - 1664

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Joining the Dutch East India Company (VOC), he served as an assistant surgeon in the East Indies, then undertook (in 1651) the command of the initial Dutch settlement in the future South Africa. He landed at the future Cape Town on 6 April 1652 and fortified the site as a way-station for the VOC trade route between the Netherlands and the East Indies.

Related Topics:
Dutch East India Company - East Indies - 1651 - South Africa - Cape Town - 6 April - 1652

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Van Riebeeck was Governor of the Cape from 1652 to 1662; he was charged with building a fort, with improving the natural anchorage at Table Bay, planting fruit and vegetables and obtaining livestock from the indigenous Khoekhoe people. In the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town there is a wild almond hedge still surviving that was planted on his orders as a barrier.

Related Topics:
1652 - 1662 - Khoekhoe - Kirstenbosch

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The initial fort was made of mud, clay and timber, and had 4 corners or bastions. This fort should not be confused with the present-day Cape Town Castle, which was built between 1666 and 1679, long after Van Riebeeck left the Cape, has 5 bastions, and is made of brick, stone and cement.

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Van Riebeeck reported the first comet discovered from South Africa, C/1652 Y1, which was spotted on December 17, 1652 (it was most likely not "discovered" by him, but his report is the only one surviving).

Related Topics:
Comet - C/1652 Y1 - December 17 - 1652

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He died at Jakarta, then Batavia, on Java in 1677.

Related Topics:
Batavia - Java - 1677

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