Jan De Vos
Encyclopedia
Jan Baptist De Vos was mayor of Antwerp (Belgium
) from 15 March 1909 until 21 July 1921. He stayed on as mayor after the capture of Antwerp by German
forces during World War I
, and remained in office after the end of German occupation and World War I.
Jan Baptist De Vos was born in Dendermonde
. He became a successful trader and entered local politics when he was elected in the city council as councillor on 19 October 1890.
King Léopold II of Belgium
appointed him mayor of Antwerp on 22 February 1909, much against the wishes of the liberal party
, of which Jan De Vos was also member, who would have preferred the alderman Victor Desguin
.
The events of October 1914 were the most intense of his tenure. The German Army besieged the city of Antwerp and the situation worsened in the city due to the bombardments of the Germans. The city council decided to negotiate the surrender of the city. De Vos negotiated terms with General Hans Hartwig von Beseler
of the German Army in Kontich
, south of Antwerp. De Vos signed the surrender of the city and the remaining fortresses around Antwerp on 10 October 1914.
De Vos remained in office throughout the war. After German capitulation, he was not prosecuted for collaboration and stayed on as mayor until 21 July 1921.
He died on 30 March 1923, aged 79.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) from 15 March 1909 until 21 July 1921. He stayed on as mayor after the capture of Antwerp by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
forces during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and remained in office after the end of German occupation and World War I.
Jan Baptist De Vos was born in Dendermonde
Dendermonde
Dendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
. He became a successful trader and entered local politics when he was elected in the city council as councillor on 19 October 1890.
King Léopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
appointed him mayor of Antwerp on 22 February 1909, much against the wishes of the liberal party
Liberal Party (Belgium)
The Liberal Party was a Belgian political party that existed from 1846 until 1961, when it became the Party for Freedom and Progress, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès or PVV-PLP, under the leadership of Omer Vanaudenhove.-History:The Liberal Party was founded...
, of which Jan De Vos was also member, who would have preferred the alderman Victor Desguin
Victor Desguin
Victor Desguin was a Belgian liberal politician.He was a popular alderman of the city of Antwerp in charge of education and municipal schools at the end of the 19th century. He was twice acting mayor of Antwerp, but was never appointed mayor of the city.Desguin was born on 30 January 1838...
.
The events of October 1914 were the most intense of his tenure. The German Army besieged the city of Antwerp and the situation worsened in the city due to the bombardments of the Germans. The city council decided to negotiate the surrender of the city. De Vos negotiated terms with General Hans Hartwig von Beseler
Hans Hartwig von Beseler
Hans Hartwig von Beseler was a German Colonel General.- Biography :Beseler was born in Greifswald, Pomerania. His father, Georg Beseler, was a law professor at the University of Greifswald. He entered the Prussian Army in 1868, fought in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, and had a successful...
of the German Army in Kontich
Kontich
Kontich is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Kontich proper and Waarloos. On December 31, 2010 Kontich had a total population of 20,584...
, south of Antwerp. De Vos signed the surrender of the city and the remaining fortresses around Antwerp on 10 October 1914.
De Vos remained in office throughout the war. After German capitulation, he was not prosecuted for collaboration and stayed on as mayor until 21 July 1921.
He died on 30 March 1923, aged 79.