Hendrik Bosch

Hendrik Bosch (born 26 February 1776 – 9 March 1864) was a Dutch military officer and colonial government official, who in his later life made a career in the administration on the Dutch Gold Coast.

Hendrik Bosch
Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast
In office
5 August 1838 – 7 March 1840 (1838-08-05 – 1840-03-07)
MonarchWilliam II of the Netherlands
Preceded byAnthony van der Eb
Succeeded byAnthony van der Eb
Personal details
Born(1776-02-26)26 February 1776
Spanbroek, Netherlands
Died9 March 1864(1864-03-09) (aged 88)
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Biography

Bosch was born in Spanbroek to Bernardus Bosch and Elisabeth Struis.[1] He began his military career in 1800 and participated in various military campaigns. As a soldier in the French Napoleonic Army, he participated in the Russian Campaign of 1812 and in the German Campaign of 1813. He then switched sides and fought for the Netherlands against France in Napoleon's Hundred Days. During the Belgian Revolution, Bosch defended the citadel of Liège.

Major general Jan Verveer, who was asked by the Dutch government to reform the colonial administration of the Dutch Gold Coast in the wake of the Dutch-Ahanta War, recommended Bosch to be installed as governor of the colony:

Mister Bosch is about 61 years old, but is of extraordinary good physical condition. He has served for three years as a soldier in Suriname. His military career has been rich in practical experience; - his behaviour was exemplary at all times; - he lived a plain and sobre life; - his judgement is sound and he is a soldier in heart and soul.

— Major general J. Verveer, [2]

Bosch eagerly accepted the office and was installed by royal decree of 23 March 1838, arriving in Elmina in August of the same year. He did not serve his full term and returned to Europe on 13 March 1840.[1]

Hendrik Bosch died in Amsterdam on 9 March 1864.[3]

Personal life

Hendrik Bosch married Maria Lohman (born 8 August 1786 in The Hague, died 6 September 1863[4]), with whom he had three sons and one daughter.[1] When their son Bernardus died at the age of 45 in September 1853 in Delft, both Hendrik and Maria were still alive and residents of Nootdorp.[5] The civil registration for 1850-1880 lists them as living there with their daughter Hentrietta (*1832 Delft; left in 1860), their son Willem (*1829 Luik), and a maid, but does not show a departure or death date for either parent.[6]

Decorations

Notes
  1. Michel Doortmont. "Bosch, Hendrik R.N.L., M.K." GoldCoastDataBase. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. Original in Dutch: "De Heer Bosch is ongeveer 61 jaren oud, maar van een zeer buitengewoon sterk ligchaamgestel. Hij heeft vroeger drie jaren in Suriname bij de militaire bezetting gediend. Zijn militaire loopbaan is rijk geweest in practische ondervinding; - zijn gedrag ten allen tijde zonder reproche; - zijne levenswijze eenvoudig en sober; - zijn oordeel gezond en het fond van zijn karakter geheel soldaat."
  3. "Gevonden in Delpher - Opregte Haarlemsche Courant". www.delpher.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  4. Opregte Haarlemsche Courant
  5. Death certificate of Bernardus Bosch at collectie-delft.nl
  6. Hendrik Bosch / Maria Lohman registration in Nootdorp.
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