| Authorised form of name | Witsen; Nicolaus (1641 - 1717); statesman and collector |
| Other forms of name | Nicolaas Corneliszoon |
| Nicholaes |
| Nicolaas |
| Dates | 1641 - 1717 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Place of birth | Amsterdam, Dutch Republic [modern day Netherlands], Europe |
| Date of birth | 8 May 1641 |
| Place of death | Amsterdam, Dutch Republic [modern day Netherlands], Europe |
| Date of death | 10 August 1717 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Burial:
Egmond aan den Hoef, Dutch Republic [modern day Netherlands], Europe |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Research field | Mathematics |
| Shipbuilding |
| Activity | Education:
Leyden (LLD 1664)
Career:
Came to England aged 15; Travelled to Moscow as Secretary to the Dutch Legation (1664); travelled in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Germany; Member of the Dutch East India Company; Burgomaster of Amsterdam 13 times (1682-); assisted French Refugees after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685), earning the epithet 'Consolateur des Francois affligez' from Gregorio Leti (FRS 1681); Negotiator for the Accession of William III to the throne of England (1689); Curator of Leyden University in succession to Coenraad van Beuningen (FRS 1682); friend of Czar Peter the Great on his visit to Holland (1698) |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 30/11/1689 |
| Age at election | 48 |
| Other Royal Society activity | Frequent correspondent to the Society, e.g. regarding his travels |
| Relationships | Parents: Cornelis Janszoon Witsen and Catharina Lambertsdochter Opsy [Claesdochter Gaeff]
Married: Catharina Hochepiedr Opsie; married Catharina Hochepied |
| PublishedWorks | RCN: R65106 |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
| Image | 
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| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; Hunter; BIB; DBNL
References:
Bruijn, J R. 1989. 'William III and His Two Navies', in Notes and Records, vol. 43, pp. 117-132 |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/106969992 |
| Code | NA8030 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| LBO/13/5 | Copy letter from Hans Sloane, London, to Mr J Witsen | 4 October 1700 |
| CLP/6/56 | Paper, regarding the weights of liquids and gunpowder by unknown author | [1697] |
| IM/004979 | Witsen, Nicolaus | nd |
| EL/D1/40 | Extract of a letter, from Roelof Diodati to Nicolaus Witsen | August 1697 |
| EL/W3/52 | Letter, from Nicolaus Witsen [to the Royal Society], dated at Amsterdam | 14 February 1695 |
| EL/W3/54 | Letter, from Nicolaus Witsen to Martin Lister, dated at Amsterdam | 3 October 1698 |
| EL/A/43 | Letter, from Fremont d' Ablancourt to [unknown correspondent] | 17 April 1693 |
| EL/W3/53 | Letter, from Nicolaus Witsen [to the Royal Society], dated at Amsterdam | 1697 |
| EL/W3/51 | Letter, from Nicolaus Witsen to Henry Oldenburg | 1671 |
| CLP/9i/56 | Paper, 'A relation of the bad condition of the mountains about theTungarouse and Batavian rivers, having their source from thence, occasioned by the earthquake between the 4th and 5th of January 1699' by unknown author | [1699] |
| RBO/8/67 | Concerning the effects of an earthquake on the mountain about the Tangorusa and Batavian Rivers | 1699 |