biography
| name: |
Capellen, Godert Alexander Gerard Philip, baron van der
|
pronunciation:
[van der kapelen]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1778–1848)
|
| biography:
| Dutch politician, born in Utrecht, W Netherlands. He held various posts in the Kingdom of Holland, but resigned in 1810 when it was annexed by France. In 1814 he was a member of the commission taking over the Netherlands East Indies from the English after the Napoleonic wars. As governor -general of the Netherlands East Indies (1819–26), he favoured the advancement and education of the native population, but offended the local rulers, eventually leading to the Java war and Dipo Negoro revolt. He borrowed heavily (8 million guilders from the Nederlandse Handelsmaatschappij and £60 000 from Palmer & Co in Calcutta to pay for these wars and to restore the economy when the coffee price crashed. He was removed from office by the king in favour of General de Kock. |
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