Johannes Siberg
Encyclopedia
Johannes Siberg was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
from 1801 to 1805, during which time control of the Dutch Indies passed from the Dutch East India Company
(VOC) to the Napoleonic Dutch State in the guise of the Batavian Republic
(later superseded by the Kingdom of Holland
) which took over much of Dutch territory and broke their monopoly of trade. Local kings and princes took the opportunity of troubled times to try to reassert themselves. The various governments in the homeland tried various means to retrieve matters, including troop reinforcments and reforms, finally formally taking over the government functions of the VOC. Siberg resisted many of the reforms, and continued to do so after being removed from office.
. When he was 18 years old, he left for the Indies
as a contabelsmaat (assistant artillery master). He soon gave up the sea and climbed expertly through the Company's ranks - Underbuyer (onderkoopman) in 1770, Buyer (koopman) in 1771, to reach Senior Buyer (opperkoopman) in 1776. He married the daughter of Willem Arnold Alting
(soon to be Governor-General) and shortly after that left for Panang to be the governor (gezaghebber) of Sumatra's West Coast
. In 1780, he became Governor and Director of Java's Northwest Coast
. He occupied this extremely lucrative post for seven years and became enormously wealthy. Meanwhile, in 1782 he became Counsellor-extraordinary (buitengewoon Raad) in the Dutch Council of the Indies.
After returning to Batavia, in 1787, he became President of the Schepenbank (the Bench of Aldermen
, dealing with local administration), as well as a colonel in the local militia
. In 1791, he was appointed full Counsellor of the Indies (Raad van Indië); in 1793 he was First Counsellor and Director-General (Eerste Raad en Directeur-Generaal). At the same time his father-in-law managed to get him appointed one of the three Commissies-generaal (General Commissioners sent to re-organise the Dutch possessions in the face of British and French incursions, as well as restive native rulers). This duo managed to concentrate a lot of power in their hands, and those of their wider family attachments, especially after the new Batavian Republic
merged the Commissie-generaal with the Raad van Indië (Council of the Indies). In 1800, the Batavian Republic took over formal control of the government of Nederlands-Indië (as it was now called) and vested authority in Council for the Asian Possessions, (Raad der Aziatische Bezittingen) whose combined assembly was packed with family members. They acted as a brake on much needed reforms, and lost ground to the British in particular.
, he became acting Governor-General, and, one year later, was confirmed in the full, official function by the Batavian Republic
. In 1802, the Peace of Amiens (ending the first phase of the Napoleonic Wars
) also ended the Dutch trading monopoly, and they came under increasing British pressure. Following accusations of corruption and financial bungling, he was removed from office in 1805. In 1806, the Kingdom of Holland
replaced the Batavian Republic. The new (Napoleonic) Kingdom established a Ministry of the Colonies to deal with Indian affairs. The new Governor-General Albertus Henricus Wiese
was charged with making much needed reforms. Siberg, however, remained in the Indies, as leader of the Oudgastenpartij, a group of conservative landowners and merchants, still influencing (or interfering with, or frustrating, according to taste) his successors' attempts at reforms. He died in Batavia on 18 June 1817.
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 1801 to 1805, during which time control of the Dutch Indies passed from the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
(VOC) to the Napoleonic Dutch State in the guise of the Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
(later superseded by the Kingdom of Holland
Kingdom of Holland
The Kingdom of Holland 1806–1810 was set up by Napoleon Bonaparte as a puppet kingdom for his third brother, Louis Bonaparte, in order to better control the Netherlands. The name of the leading province, Holland, was now taken for the whole country...
) which took over much of Dutch territory and broke their monopoly of trade. Local kings and princes took the opportunity of troubled times to try to reassert themselves. The various governments in the homeland tried various means to retrieve matters, including troop reinforcments and reforms, finally formally taking over the government functions of the VOC. Siberg resisted many of the reforms, and continued to do so after being removed from office.
Early career
Johannes (or Joannes) Siberg born on 14 October 1740 in RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. When he was 18 years old, he left for the Indies
Indies
The Indies is a term that has been used to describe the lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the present India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and also Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, East Timor, Malaysia and...
as a contabelsmaat (assistant artillery master). He soon gave up the sea and climbed expertly through the Company's ranks - Underbuyer (onderkoopman) in 1770, Buyer (koopman) in 1771, to reach Senior Buyer (opperkoopman) in 1776. He married the daughter of Willem Arnold Alting
Willem Arnold Alting
Willem Arnold Alting was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1780 until 1797.Alting was born in Groningen on 11 November 1724. He studied in his hometown and graduated in law....
(soon to be Governor-General) and shortly after that left for Panang to be the governor (gezaghebber) of Sumatra's West Coast
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...
. In 1780, he became Governor and Director of Java's Northwest Coast
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. He occupied this extremely lucrative post for seven years and became enormously wealthy. Meanwhile, in 1782 he became Counsellor-extraordinary (buitengewoon Raad) in the Dutch Council of the Indies.
After returning to Batavia, in 1787, he became President of the Schepenbank (the Bench of Aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, dealing with local administration), as well as a colonel in the local militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. In 1791, he was appointed full Counsellor of the Indies (Raad van Indië); in 1793 he was First Counsellor and Director-General (Eerste Raad en Directeur-Generaal). At the same time his father-in-law managed to get him appointed one of the three Commissies-generaal (General Commissioners sent to re-organise the Dutch possessions in the face of British and French incursions, as well as restive native rulers). This duo managed to concentrate a lot of power in their hands, and those of their wider family attachments, especially after the new Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
merged the Commissie-generaal with the Raad van Indië (Council of the Indies). In 1800, the Batavian Republic took over formal control of the government of Nederlands-Indië (as it was now called) and vested authority in Council for the Asian Possessions, (Raad der Aziatische Bezittingen) whose combined assembly was packed with family members. They acted as a brake on much needed reforms, and lost ground to the British in particular.
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
In 1801, following the death of his predecessor, Pieter Gerardus van OverstratenPieter Gerardus van Overstraten
Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1796 until 1801. He was the last Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company, which was dissolved, bankrupt in 1799, but he remained in post as the Dutch state took over ruling its territories in the Indies...
, he became acting Governor-General, and, one year later, was confirmed in the full, official function by the Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
. In 1802, the Peace of Amiens (ending the first phase of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
) also ended the Dutch trading monopoly, and they came under increasing British pressure. Following accusations of corruption and financial bungling, he was removed from office in 1805. In 1806, the Kingdom of Holland
Kingdom of Holland
The Kingdom of Holland 1806–1810 was set up by Napoleon Bonaparte as a puppet kingdom for his third brother, Louis Bonaparte, in order to better control the Netherlands. The name of the leading province, Holland, was now taken for the whole country...
replaced the Batavian Republic. The new (Napoleonic) Kingdom established a Ministry of the Colonies to deal with Indian affairs. The new Governor-General Albertus Henricus Wiese
Albertus Henricus Wiese
Albertus Henricus Wiese was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1805 to 1808, during which time the United Provinces became, during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, first of all the Batavian Republic and then the Kingdom of Holland...
was charged with making much needed reforms. Siberg, however, remained in the Indies, as leader of the Oudgastenpartij, a group of conservative landowners and merchants, still influencing (or interfering with, or frustrating, according to taste) his successors' attempts at reforms. He died in Batavia on 18 June 1817.
Sources
- Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch-Indië
- http://www.bezuidenhout.nl