Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck
Jacob Cornelisz. van Neck | |
---|---|
Born | 1564 |
Died | March 8, 1638 |
Nationality | Dutch |
Occupation(s) | Naval officer Explorer |
Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck (often anglicized to Jacob Cornelius van Neck) (1564 – March 8, 1638) was a Dutch naval officer and explorer who led the
Early life
Van Neck was from an Amsterdam family in good standing, and received a thorough education. Since he came from a commercial background and was not experienced in sailing, he took extra classes in navigation.[1]
Second Dutch Expedition
Following the success of the
Soon after this, heavy storms separated Van Neck, with three ships, from the rest of the fleet under Warwyck.
He brought back with him nearly one million pounds in weight of pepper and cloves, in addition to half a ship full of nutmeg, mace, and cinnamon.[5] The explorers were greeted by an ecstatic Amsterdam and paraded through the city behind a band of trumpeters, with every church bell tolling. The merchants who had backed the voyage rewarded Van Neck with a gold beaker (it later turned out to be only gold-plated) and the crew were given as much wine as they could drink.[6]
The voyage was a tremendous success, earning the backers a 400 percent return on their investment.[7]
Later life
Van Neck made one more expedition to the Indies after his voyage of 1598, losing three fingers while doing battle with a Spanish-Portuguese fleet near Ternate.[8] He retired from exploring after that, and later became a mayor of Amsterdam, and alderman, and a member of two admiralty colleges.[8] He died on March 8, 1638.
Notes
References
- Masselman, George (1963). The Cradle of Colonialism. New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
- ISBN 0-374-21936-2.
- ISBN 0-06-621285-5.
External links
- Waerachtigh verhael van de schip-vaert op Oost-Indien, ghedaen by de acht schepen, onder den Heer Admirael Jacob van Neck, en de Vice-Admirael Wybrand van Warwijck, van Amsterdam gezeylt in den jare 1598. : Hier achter is aen-ghevoeght de voyagie van Sebald de Weert, naer de strate Magalanes (in Dutch). Vol. 1. Amsterdam: voor Joost Hartgerts. 1648. Retrieved 22 April 2022.