Louis van Assenburgh

Dutch colonial governor

Louis van Assenburgh

3rd Governor of the Dutch Cape Colony
In office
1 February 1708 – 27 December 1711
Preceded by| Johan Cornelis d'Ableing (acting)
Succeeded by| Willem Helot (acting)
Personal details
Born| c. 1657
Amsterdam, Dutch Republic
Died| 27 December 1711
Cape Town
Nationality| Dutch

Louis van Assenburgh (also Assenborch, Assenburg), (c. 1657 – 27 December 1711), Governor of the Cape Colony between 1708 and 1711.[1]

## Early life[edit]

Van Assenburgh was the son of Pieter van Assenburgh and his wife, Susanna Houwens and was baptized on 23 December 1657 in the Westerkerk, Amsterdam. Before he joined the VOC, Van Assenburgh served under the 'Kaiser of the Donou'.[2]

## Career[edit]

Van Assenbugh was appointed as successor to Governor W. A. van der Stel and he left the Netherlands on 19 May 1707. As the ship sailed via Brazil, he only reached the Cape only 25 January 1708 and on the 1st of February he was introduced to the inhabitants of Cape by the secunde and acting governor, Johan Cornelis d'Ableing.[3]

At the beginning of his term as governor, Van Assenburgh had the difficult task at appease the anger of the dissatisfied burghers caused by the revolt and dismissal of W. A. van der Stel and he had to ensure that the people adhere to the commands of the Lords XVII (Heren XVII). Among other things, he dealt with disputes between burghers and officials, stopped smuggling, introduced new licensing conditions for auctions and made improvements in the care of the sick. The people of the Cape were generally satisfied with his actions.

However, the former governor-general, Joan van Hoorn, who visited the Cape in 1710, criticized Van Assenburgh's rule in a letter addressed to his father-in-law, Abraham van Riebeeck. Van Hoorn accused Van Assenburgh, who was unmarried, of consorting with women of ill repute, being fond of frivolous entertainments and that the Cape had a general air of neglect. Although Van Assenburgh was accused of indecisive and improper conduct, it was because of his efforts that the Cape burghers became reconciled once again to the authority of the VOC.[2]

## Death[edit]

Van Assenburgh was bed-ridden for eight months before his death. He signed his last will and testament exactly a month before he died on 27 December 1711.[4]

## See also[edit]

* 1700s in South Africa
* 1710s in South Africa

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Intro (African) to the Resolutions of Cape of Good Hope / VOC-bevelvoerders aan die Kaap die Goeie Hoop". www.tanap.net. Archived from the original on 24 March 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2020.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. ^ a b Beyers, C. J. (1981). Dictionary of South African biography: Vol IV. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. p. 674\. ISBN 0-624-00856-8. OCLC 20937.
3. ^ De Kock, W. J. (1972). Dictionary of South African biography: Vol II. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. p. 154\. ISBN 0-624-00856-8. OCLC 20937.
4. ^ Coolhaas, W. P. (1 September 1976). "Gegevens over de vestiging aan de Kaap de Goede Hoop uit de Generale Missiven : Deel VI,1698-1713". Historia. 21 (2): 143–154. ISSN 0018-229X.

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* t
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Commanders and Governors of the Dutch Cape Colony

| Commanders
1652–1691|

* Jan van Riebeeck
* Zacharias Wagenaer
* Cornelis van Quaelberg
* Jacob Borghorst
* Pieter Hackius
* Albert van Breugel
* IJsbrand Godske
* Johan Bax van Herenthals
* Hendrik Crudop
* Simon van der Stel

Governors
1691–1795|

* Simon van der Stel
* Willem Adriaan van der Stel
* Johan Cornelis d'Ableing
* Louis van Assenburgh
* Willem Helot
* Maurits Pasques de Chavonnes
* Jan de la Fontaine
* Pieter Gysbert Noodt
* Jan de la Fontaine
* Adriaan van Kervel
* Daniël van den Henghel
* Hendrik Swellengrebel
* Ryk Tulbagh
* Joachim van Plettenberg
* Pieter van Reede van Oudtshoorn
* Joachim van Plettenberg
* Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff
* Johan Isaac Rhenius
* Sebastiaan Cornelis Nederburgh & Simon Hendrik Frijkenius
* Abraham Josias Sluysken

Those in italics were Acting Governors
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