Petrus Albertus van der Parra
Encyclopedia
Petrus Albertus van der Parra (29 September 1714 – 28 December 1775) was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
from 15 May 1761 to 28 December 1775. (See portrait at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/id/thumb/a/ae/Ggparra.jpg/180px-Ggparra.jpg)
, the son of a Secretary to the government of Ceylon. His great-grandfather had come to India and the family had lived there ever since. In 1728, he began his career at fourteen years old. As everyone had to start as a soldier, he began as a "soldaat van de penne", then became an "assistent" in 1731, and "boekhouder" (bookkeeper) in 1732. He had to move house in 1736 to take up a new job as "onderkoopman" (underbuyer/undermerchant), and at the same time "collectionist" (collector) and "boekhouder" to the General Secretary at Batavia/Jakarta. He became "koopman" (buyer/merchant) and "geheimschrijver" (secrets secretary) in 1739. He became Second Secretary to the High Government (Hoge Regering), becoming First Secretary in 1747. He became Counsellor-extraordinary of the Indies later that year (November) and in 1751 became a regular Counsellor. In 1752 he became President of the College van Heemraden (in charge of estate boundaries, roads, etc.). He was later a member of the "Schepenbank" (the local government and court in Batavia), a Regent (a board member) of the hospital and in 1755 he became First Counsellor and Director-General (Eerste Raad en Directeur-Generaal)
On 15 May 1761, following the death of Jacob Mossel
he became Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. Confirmation of his appointment by the Heren XVII (the Seventeen Lords, who controlled the Dutch East India Company) came in 1762. He held a lavish inauguration on his birthday on 29 September. Subsequently, his birthday was a national holiday in the Indies. During his time as Governor-General, he overthrew the Prince of Kandy
, in Ceylon, though with difficulty, and he conquered the sultanate of Siak
in Sumatra
. Contracts were entered into with various regional leaders in Bima
, Soembawa, Dompo, Tambora
, Sangar
and Papekat. Apart from that, the rule of Van der Parra can be called weak. He favoured his friends and gave out well-paid posts if he could get anything in return for them. It was said he was a typical colonial ruler, idle, grumpy but generous to those who fawned upon him and recognised his greatness. It was a golden time for the preachers in Batavia, who got gifts, translations of the New Testament
and scholarships from Van der Parra. They worshipped and eulogised him. Although the Heren XVII knew about his behaviour, as five Counsellors had written to them about his pretentions to kingly behaviour, they did nothing about it.
In 1770, Captain James Cook had to ask for his help to proceed on his journeys on HMS Endeavour
(See s:Captain Cook's Journal, First Voyage/Chapter 9). At the end of the 19th Century, a steamship, trading to the Indies, was named after him. (http://www.indie-indonesie.nl/content/nl/httpwww.indie-indonesie.nlcontentnlforum_foto_archief_buleleng.asp)
After over fourteen years in power, he died on 28 September 1775 in Weltevreden
, the imposing palace built for him outside Batavia/Jakarta. (See images at http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/AMH/detail.aspx?page=dafb&lang=en&id=471 and http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/amh/detail.aspx?page=dafb&lang=en&id=2452). He apparently left a great deal of his fortune to the widows of Colombo
and a smaller part to the poor of Batavia (http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zDmTn806NzsC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=van+der+Parra&source=web&ots=idrZrRJOzQ&sig=lDIN9Um5dhpL7A9SbJ4hr2Ap8sk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result) He was followed as Governor by Jeremias van Riemsdijk
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
The Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies represented the Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949.The first Governors-General were appointed by the Dutch East India Company...
from 15 May 1761 to 28 December 1775. (See portrait at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/id/thumb/a/ae/Ggparra.jpg/180px-Ggparra.jpg)
Biography
Petrus Albertus van der Parra was born in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, the son of a Secretary to the government of Ceylon. His great-grandfather had come to India and the family had lived there ever since. In 1728, he began his career at fourteen years old. As everyone had to start as a soldier, he began as a "soldaat van de penne", then became an "assistent" in 1731, and "boekhouder" (bookkeeper) in 1732. He had to move house in 1736 to take up a new job as "onderkoopman" (underbuyer/undermerchant), and at the same time "collectionist" (collector) and "boekhouder" to the General Secretary at Batavia/Jakarta. He became "koopman" (buyer/merchant) and "geheimschrijver" (secrets secretary) in 1739. He became Second Secretary to the High Government (Hoge Regering), becoming First Secretary in 1747. He became Counsellor-extraordinary of the Indies later that year (November) and in 1751 became a regular Counsellor. In 1752 he became President of the College van Heemraden (in charge of estate boundaries, roads, etc.). He was later a member of the "Schepenbank" (the local government and court in Batavia), a Regent (a board member) of the hospital and in 1755 he became First Counsellor and Director-General (Eerste Raad en Directeur-Generaal)
On 15 May 1761, following the death of Jacob Mossel
Jacob Mossel
Jacob Mossel went from being a common sailor to become Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1750 to 1761....
he became Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. Confirmation of his appointment by the Heren XVII (the Seventeen Lords, who controlled the Dutch East India Company) came in 1762. He held a lavish inauguration on his birthday on 29 September. Subsequently, his birthday was a national holiday in the Indies. During his time as Governor-General, he overthrew the Prince of Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, in Ceylon, though with difficulty, and he conquered the sultanate of Siak
Siak
Siak may refer to:*Asiagh , a gotra/clan of Jats found in India.*Eric Low Siak Meng, a Singaporean Chinese politician.*Siak Regency, a regency of Riau, Indonesia.*Siak River, a river in Sumatra, Indonesia....
in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. Contracts were entered into with various regional leaders in Bima
Bima
Bima is a city on the eastern coast of the island Sumbawa in central Indonesia's province West Nusa Tenggara, and the largest city on the island. In 2010 the municipality counted some 142,443 people, separate from the adjoining Regency of Bima with 407,636 population...
, Soembawa, Dompo, Tambora
Tambora
Tambora may refer to:* In music:**Tanpura, an instrument used in Indian classical music for continuous production of consonating reference notes **Tambora , an Afro-Caribbean percussion instrument...
, Sangar
Sangar
Sangar is a small temporary fortified position with a breastwork originally of stone now built of sandbags and similar materials. The term was originally used by the British Indian Army to describe small temporary fortified positions on the North West Frontier and in Afghanistan, and is still...
and Papekat. Apart from that, the rule of Van der Parra can be called weak. He favoured his friends and gave out well-paid posts if he could get anything in return for them. It was said he was a typical colonial ruler, idle, grumpy but generous to those who fawned upon him and recognised his greatness. It was a golden time for the preachers in Batavia, who got gifts, translations of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and scholarships from Van der Parra. They worshipped and eulogised him. Although the Heren XVII knew about his behaviour, as five Counsellors had written to them about his pretentions to kingly behaviour, they did nothing about it.
In 1770, Captain James Cook had to ask for his help to proceed on his journeys on HMS Endeavour
HMS Endeavour
HMS Endeavour may refer to one of the following ships:In the Royal Navy:, a 36-gun ship purchased in 1652 and sold in 1656, a 4-gun bomb vessel purchased in 1694 and sold in 1696, a fire ship purchased in 1694 and sold in 1696, a storeship hoy purchased in 1694 and sold in 1705, a storeship...
(See s:Captain Cook's Journal, First Voyage/Chapter 9). At the end of the 19th Century, a steamship, trading to the Indies, was named after him. (http://www.indie-indonesie.nl/content/nl/httpwww.indie-indonesie.nlcontentnlforum_foto_archief_buleleng.asp)
After over fourteen years in power, he died on 28 September 1775 in Weltevreden
Jakarta Old Town
Kota , is a small area in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is also known as Old Jakarta, and Old Batavia . It spans 1.3 square kilometres of North Jakarta and West Jakarta...
, the imposing palace built for him outside Batavia/Jakarta. (See images at http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/AMH/detail.aspx?page=dafb&lang=en&id=471 and http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/amh/detail.aspx?page=dafb&lang=en&id=2452). He apparently left a great deal of his fortune to the widows of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and a smaller part to the poor of Batavia (http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zDmTn806NzsC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=van+der+Parra&source=web&ots=idrZrRJOzQ&sig=lDIN9Um5dhpL7A9SbJ4hr2Ap8sk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result) He was followed as Governor by Jeremias van Riemsdijk
Jeremias van Riemsdijk
Jeremias van Riemsdijk was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, from 28 December 1775 to 3 October 1777....
Sources
- Comprehensive Dutch website on the history of the Dutch Eat Indies http://www.vocsite.nl/geschiedenis/personalia/vanderparra.html
- Biographical Dictionary (in Dutch) http://www.bezuidenhout.nl/html/gouverneurs-generaal__5_.html
- L.P. van Putten, Ambitie en Onvermogen, Gouverneurs-generaal van Nederlands-Indië, Rotterdam, 2002
- Jan N. Bremmer, Lourens van den Bosch Between Poverty and the Pyre: Moments in the History of Widowhood Routledge, 1995 ISBN 0-415-08370-2, 9780415083706