Pieter de Huybert

De Huybert was a son of Johanna Haecx and Anthony Anthonyszoon de Huybert, a Middelburg merchant in Madder. He studied law at Leiden university, just like his nephew Justus de Huybert. He was first married with Anna Elisabeth van Panhuijs, and after being widowed, with Elisabeth de Hoochepied. He had two daughters: Clara Elisabeth and Petronella Genoveva, and at least one son: Antonie. Through inheritances and purchase he acquired the ambachtsheerlijkheid of Burgh and Kraaiesteijn, making him a lord of the manor. He had the church of the village built in 1674. He was buried in this church under a monument with his bust and an inscription from Daniel Gravius.[1]

De Huybert became a member of the Middelburg Vroedschap in March 1646. In this period he was used by the Dutch Republic as a diplomat, among others in Mechelen in the Spanish Netherlands (1652 and 1659); Sweden (1656-7); Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Brandenburg-Prussia(1659-1660).[2] He was appointed clerk of the States of Zeeland and of the Gecommitteerde Raden[lower-alpha 2] on 24 March 1659. He held these posts until 15 December 1664, when he was succeeded by his nephew Justus. His next post was that of Grand pensionary of the States of Zeeland (and of the Gecommitteerde Raden at the same time), which he attained on 19 March 1664 (so there was an overlap with his previous function). He remained Grand pensionary until 9 October 1687. He became a member of the Raad van State of the Dutch Republic on 10 November 1687 until his death on 7 January 1697.[3]

De Huybert (together with his nephew Justus) was instrumental in having William III recognized as First Noble[lower-alpha 3] in 1668.[4] He thereafter belonged to the Orangist faction in Zeeland and the Republic.[lower-alpha 4]

In 1672 both De Huyberts were drivers behind the naval expedition of Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest that would recapture New Netherland from the English in 1673.[6]