| Jacob Dircksz de Graeff | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Regent and burgomaster of Amsterdam | |
| Reign | 1613–1638 |
| Predecessor | Reynier Pauw |
| Successor | Andries Bicker |
| Born | 1570 Emden |
| Died | 6 October 1638 (aged 69) Amsterdam |
| Burial | Oude Kerk, Amsterdam |
| Spouse | Aaltje Boelens Loen |
| Issue | Cornelis de Graeff (1599–1664) Dirk de Graeff (1601–1633) Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (1603–1656) Wendela de Graeff Christina de Graeff (1609–1679) Andries de Graeff (1611–1678) |
| House | De Graeff |
| Father | Diederik Jansz. Graeff |
| Mother | Agnies Pietresdr van Neck |
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff, free lord of Zuid-Polsbroek (Emden 1571 – Amsterdam, 6 October 1638) was an illustrious member of the Dutch patrician De Graeff family. He belonged to States Faction[1] and was an influential Amsterdam regent and burgomaster (mayor) of the Dutch Golden Age.
De Graeff was known for his "free-thinking", "republican" attitude but also for his "fame-seeking".[2] Together with his nephew Andries Bicker, he campaigned for the recognition of the Remonstrants in Amsterdam. After the political collapse of Reynier Pauw in 1627, the management of the city government fell into the hands of the "Arminian clique" around De Graeff and Bicker,[3][4] who contollef the city's politics in close cooperation to each other.[5][6] This also gave new impetus to the republican "states party", which had been weakened since the murder of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, and was able to determine Amsterdam politics up to the crisis of the Rampjaar in 1672. [7] However, De Graeff was not a principled anti-orangist, because he honored the legacy of his father, Dirck Jansz Graeff, who was on friendly terms with William "the Silent" of Orange. His sons were influenced by their father's antagonistic attitude towards political issues. The proponents of the De Graeff family has shown they had an eye for national politics and tried to find some balance between the House of Orange and the Republicans. They were against too much influence of the church on political issues.[2]
In addition to his political activities, De Graeff also conducted scientific experiments and research and ran a chemical laboratory. He maintained a close collaboration with Constantijn Huygens and via him also with René Descartes.
- ^ "Triomf der Vrede (nl)". Archived from the original on 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
- ^ a b Pieter C. Vies: "Andries de Graeff (1611–1678) 't Gezagh is heerelyk: doch vol bekommeringen. P 6" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) (PDF; 2,7 MB) - ^ Eelco Beukers: Geschiedenis van Holland, book 2, chapter 2, p 44 (Google Books).
- ^ Biography Andries Bicker at the dutch DBNL
- ^ Google: De Republiek: 1477-1806, by J.I. Israel
- ^ Google: Geschiedenis van Holland, Part 2, book 2, from Eelco Beukers
- ^ Jonathan I. Israel: The Dutch Republic – Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall – 1477–1806. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1995, ISBN 0-19-873072-1, S. 494.