Adriaan Pauw

Adriaan Pauw, knight, heer van Heemstede, Bennebroek, Nieuwerkerk etc. (1 November 1585 – 21 February 1653) was Grand Pensionary of Holland from 1631 to 1636 and from 1651 to 1653.

Life
He was born in Amsterdam in a rich merchant family - his father, Reinier Pauw (1564–1636) wasn't only a merchant, but also a Mayor of Amsterdam  - and studied law in Leiden. He was the pensionary of Amsterdam from 1611 to 1627. In 1620 he bought the town of Heemstede and was called 'Lord of Heemstede'. He was appointed grand pensionary in 1631. Pauw, Holland and Amsterdam wanted an alliance with Spain, but Prince Frederick Henry of Orange wanted an alliance with France. Frederick Henry sent Pauw to France to start an alliance against Spain. Pauw accepted this assignment and allied with France. He resigned in 1636 as grand pensionary. After the Peace of Münster (1648) for which he was instrumental as ambassador for Holland Pauw became grand pensionary again in 1651 although there was much opposition against him. He tried to stop a war with England in 1652. He died in 1653.

Family
Adriaan Pauw was married to Anna van Ruytenburgh (1589–1648), daughter of Pieter van Ruytenburgh, heer van Vlaardingen, Vlaardingerambacht en Ter Horst (1562–1627), a wealthy merchant. Her mother was Aleyda Huybrechts van Duyvendrecht.

References

Literature 
H. W. J. de Boer, H.Bruch, H. Krol (edit.). Adriaan Pauw (1585–1653); staatsman en ambachtsheer. Heemstede, 1985.
J. C. Tjessinga. Schets van het leven van Adriaan Pauw. Heemstede, 1948.
J. C. Tjessinga. Het slot van Heemstede onder Adriaan Pauw. Heemstede, 1949.

External links 
 

Category:1585 births
Category:1653 deaths
Category:Dutch people of the Eighty Years' War (United Provinces)
Category:Grand Pensionaries
Category:People from Amsterdam
Category:People from Bennebroek
Category:People from Heemstede