Nicolaes Witsen
Nicolaes Witsen was born on May 8, 1641. See ranking, bio blurb, and everyone else born that day.
About Nicolaes Witsen
Nicolaes Witsen (Dutch: Nicolaas Witsen; 8 May 1641 – 10 August 1717) was a Dutch statesman who was mayor of Amsterdam thirteen times, between 1682 and 1706. In 1693, he became administrator of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). In 1689, he was extraordinary-ambassador to the English court and became Fellow of the Royal Society. In his free time, he was a cartographer, maritime writer, and an authority on shipbuilding. His books on the subject are important sources on Dutch shipbuilding in the 17th century. Furthermore, he was an expert on Russian affairs. He was the first to describe…