Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga explained

Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga
Office:Governor of Suriname
Term Start:29 June 1867
Term End:1 August 1873
Predecessor:Reinhart Frans van Lansberge
Successor:Cornelis Ascanius van Sypesteyn
Office2:Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast
Term Start2:19 February 1866
Term End2:17 April 1867
Monarch2:William III of the Netherlands
Predecessor2:Arent Magnin
Successor2:Georg Pieter Willem Boers
Birth Date:1822 6, mf=yes
Birth Place:Baardwijk, Netherlands
Death Place:The Hague, Netherlands
Spouse:Emmeline Theodora Elisabeth van Raders

Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga (born 25 June 1822 – 16 November 1896) was a Dutch politician and colonial official, who served as Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast from 1865 to 1867 and as Governor of Surinam between 29 June 1867 and 1 August 1873.[1]

Biography

Van Idzinga was born in Baardwijk, the Netherlands, to Hendrik van Idsinga, a pastor, and Joanna Elisabeth van Nimwegen. He made a career in the Royal Netherlands Navy, where he was a second lieutenant.

In his late twenties, Van Idzinga began his political career in the colonies, first becoming landdrost of the district of Nickerie in Surinam between 1850 and 1853, before becoming Lieutenant Governor (Dutch: gezaghebber) of Sint Eustatius (1853 - 1859) and Sint Maarten (1859 - 1865).

In 1865, he was first promoted to the rank of Governor, in the rather dilapidated colony of the Dutch Gold Coast. In 1867, he was appointed Governor of Surinam.

Personal life

He married Emmeline Theodora Elisabeth van Raders, daughter of former Governor of Surinam Reinier Frederik van Raders, on 31 October 1849 in Paramaribo, Surinam. They had two sons and one daughter. Dutch politician Johan Willem Herman Meyert van Idsinga was one of their sons.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: W.H.J. van Idsinga . Parlementair Documentatiecentrum . 28 April 2013.