Jacob Cornelis Matthieu Radermacher

Jacob Cornelis Matthieu (JCM) Radermacher

Born: 1741, The Hague, Holland. Died: 1783, On board a ship in the Indian Ocean bound from Batavia to Holland.

Was an officer of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Batavia] (Jakarta) as well as a talented naturalist. Born into an influential Dutch family, his father was Jacob Cornelis Radermacher (1700-1748) who was treasurer-general to the prince. His uncle and his nephew where members of the Board of Directors of the VOC. In 1757, then only sixteen years old, he had traveled to Indonesian to work as a merchant for the VOC. On May 21, 1761 Jacob marries Margaretha Sophia Verijssel. In 1762 Radermacher created a Freemasonic circle in Batavia becoming the first Freemasonic lodge in Asia. In 1763 he returns to Holland to continue his studies, and graduated in law at Harderwijk. After graduation on June 13, 1766 he establishes himself as a lawyer in Arnhem. After a short time, Radermacher make the decision to return to Batavia. On December 20, 1766 with his wife Margaretha and two sons Frans Reinier and Johannes Cornelis, they board the ship "Tulpenburg" bound for Indonesia. His youngest son, Johannes Cornelis, still an infant, dies within one month of their departure. By 1776, Radermacher is promoted by the VOC to title of "Extra-Ordinair Council of India".

During his years in Batavia, Radermacher was staunch promoter of the Art & Sciences in the Far East. On April 24, 1778 he founded the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences ("Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en etenschappen"). He also donated a substantial amount of writings and collections to start the museum. During this time he also catalogued a significant amount of flora and fauna of the islands of Java and Sumatra. The trees of the genus "Radermachera" are named for him.

By 1781 Radermacher is named Commissioner Concerning the Fleet and the Army, and Common Council of India. After the death of his first wife, he marries Bataviase Anna Bosch. For health reasons in 1783, he requests permission to return to Holland. However, while enroute home in the Indian Ocean on December 24, there is a mutiny on board the ship and Radermacher is murdered.

External links

"Jaarboek van de Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde, 1988"
* [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_jaa003198801_01/_jaa003198801_01_0007.htm]

"A Bare Outpost of Learned European Culture on the Edge of the Jungles of Java"Huib J. Zuidervaart and Rob H. Van GentIsis, volume 95 (2004), pages 1–33 DOI: 10.1086/423509
* [http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/423509&erFrom=6067836197187918805Guest]