Theophilus Cazenove
Encyclopedia
Theophilus Cazenove, or Theophile Cazenove (13 October 1740 - 6 March 1811), was a financier and one of the agents of the Holland Land Company
.
, The Netherlands
, the son of Théophile Cazenove and Marie de Raspin-Thoyras. In 1763, he married Margaretha Helena van Jever of an important business family, assisting his career in the Amsterdam business world. His early career was spent in commercial transactions in the Netherlands, Surinam and France, where he met Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.
Even though he was bankrupt by 1788 from activities involving American revolutionary war debt, he was retained by Pieter Stadnitski
to travel to the United States
to act as an investment agent for Stadnitski and other Dutch investors (Nicolaas and Jacob Van Staphorst
, P. & C. Van Eeghen, and Ten Cate & Vollenhoven). He invested his clients' money at first in development bonds issued by the new states and the federal government after Alexander Hamilton
promised to fully pay the debt. Another venture included investing in large tracts of undeveloped land, which included the Holland Purchase
. In order to implement these large and difficult purchases (sometimes complicated by the claims of Indians), he employed the advisory services of Hamilton and later Aaron Burr
.
Cazenove lived well as a financier and was known for his generosity. His business dealings were not particularly successful and the investors barely made any profit, even losing money in the Pennsylvania land dealings which he organized with James Wilson
. He was also hard pressed to account for funds that were under his control. In 1799, Cazenove returned to Europe even though he had become an American citizen. He eventually left the employment of the Dutch investors and sought a position under Talleyrand in France.
He died in Paris
.
, Town of Cazenovia
, Cazenovia College
, and Cazenovia Creek
.
Holland Land Company
The Holland Land Company was a purchaser of the western two-thirds of the western New York land tract known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. This tract was known thereafter as The Holland Purchase...
.
Life and career
He was born in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the son of Théophile Cazenove and Marie de Raspin-Thoyras. In 1763, he married Margaretha Helena van Jever of an important business family, assisting his career in the Amsterdam business world. His early career was spent in commercial transactions in the Netherlands, Surinam and France, where he met Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.
Even though he was bankrupt by 1788 from activities involving American revolutionary war debt, he was retained by Pieter Stadnitski
Wilheim Willink
Wilhelm Willink was a wealthy Amsterdam merchant, and one of the investors in the Holland Land Company, and the Louisiana Purchase...
to travel to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to act as an investment agent for Stadnitski and other Dutch investors (Nicolaas and Jacob Van Staphorst
Nicolaas van Staphorst
Nicolaas van Staphorst was a Dutch banker and a conservative republican. Up till 1794 he was involved in a total of eleven loans that were granted in Amsterdam to the United States with a value of 29 million guilders, and in the Holland Land Company.-Life:In 1782, the brothers led discussions with...
, P. & C. Van Eeghen, and Ten Cate & Vollenhoven). He invested his clients' money at first in development bonds issued by the new states and the federal government after Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
promised to fully pay the debt. Another venture included investing in large tracts of undeveloped land, which included the Holland Purchase
Holland Purchase
The Holland Purchase was a large tract of land in what is now the western portion of the U.S. state of New York. It consisted of about 3,250,000 acres of land from a line approximately 12 miles to the west of the Genesee River to the present western border and boundary of New York State.The land...
. In order to implement these large and difficult purchases (sometimes complicated by the claims of Indians), he employed the advisory services of Hamilton and later Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
.
Cazenove lived well as a financier and was known for his generosity. His business dealings were not particularly successful and the investors barely made any profit, even losing money in the Pennsylvania land dealings which he organized with James Wilson
James Wilson
James Wilson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Wilson was elected twice to the Continental Congress, and was a major force in drafting the United States Constitution...
. He was also hard pressed to account for funds that were under his control. In 1799, Cazenove returned to Europe even though he had become an American citizen. He eventually left the employment of the Dutch investors and sought a position under Talleyrand in France.
He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Legacy
A number of places in New York are named after him, including the Village of CazenoviaCazenovia (village), New York
Cazenovia is a village located in the Town of Cazenovia in Madison County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,614. The village lies on the southeast shore of Cazenovia Lake, which is approximately long and .5 miles across...
, Town of Cazenovia
Cazenovia (town), New York
Cazenovia is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 6,481 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Theophilus Cazenove, an agent of the Holland Land Company.The Town of Cazenovia has a village also named Cazenovia...
, Cazenovia College
Cazenovia College
Cazenovia College is a small, independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college, located in Cazenovia, New York. Cazenovia offers a comprehensive liberal arts education with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. Cazenovia College has been...
, and Cazenovia Creek
Cazenovia Creek
Cazenovia Creek is a small stream in Western New York, United States. The creek is named after Theophilus Cazenove, an agent of the Holland Land Company. Cazenovia Creek is a tributary of the Buffalo River, which empties into Lake Erie...
.