Life Jan Hendrik van Kinsbergen

1 life

1.1 career
1.2 russian service
1.3 return dutch republic
1.4 late republican navy
1.5 in disgrace batavian republic
1.6 kingdom of holland
1.7 continued appreciation kingdom of netherlands

life
early career

jan hendrik van kinsbergen

van kinsbergen born in doesburg eldest son of non-commissioned officer johann henrich van kinsbergen, had been born in netphen, germany, in 1706, started military career in austrian service, , spelled family name ginsberg . when six, moved parents in 1741 elburg. 3 years later left father southern netherlands , @ age of 9 enlisted soldier of dutch field army during war of austrian succession, returning in 1748. reading biography of gerard brandt life of admiral michiel de ruyter, decided become naval hero , went naval academy of groningen, trained engineer between 1751 , 1755. in 1756, became midshipman on weststellingerwerf , on 16 march 1758 lieutenant, in admiralty of amsterdam, on maarssen.

van kinsbergen had 3 younger brothers; 2 enlisted in army of prussia; youngest, jan hermanus, worked dutch east india company (voc), in 1770 casheered captain, when ship leimuiden got stuck on rocks of cape verde island boa vista , brought himself , chosen few off wreck in safety via sloop, leaving behind rest of crew. jan hermanus later appointed naval captain through influence of jan hendrik, embarrassing latter becoming involved in few serious accidents. jan hendrik served on amazone in 1761; 13 october 1763 commanded frigate swieten.

russian service

in late 1760s, due severe financial difficulties, few dutch ships active , van kinsbergen used free time write large series of publications naval modernization. seen typical example of new generation of dutch naval officers of era. no longer owed position either merchant fleet career or noble background (the old tar - tarpaulin distinction) thorough scientific education. had established minor international reputation naval thinker because enthusiastically corresponded many influential foreign contacts.

in 1769, van kinsbergen disappointed failure secure promotion in dutch navy , therefore obtained leave enter service of dutch east india company (voc) , depart dutch indies 4 years.

he informed prince henry of prussia due russo-turkish war (1768–1774) russian navy in search of naval experts , offer him position there. on 15 august 1770, van kinsbergen got permission dutch admiral-general, stadholder william v, prince of orange, depart russia. however, william v not free him obligations. van kinsbergen promised 1 year later, on 15 august 1771, in absence appointed captain. in exchange again 3 years after date return fatherland should have need of services , procedure repeated every 3 years.

in summer of 1771, jan hendrik travelled via berlin, visited prince henry, saint petersburg on 29 september appointed acting captain in imperial russian navy, on 2 october promoted captain second class. left black sea; on arrival charged commanding troop of cossacks , fought, meanwhile learning russian, on land during winter campaign. in fight shot through knee , saved under heap of corpses cossack, whom later appointment @ amsterdam naval wharf.

from 9 february 1772 @ iaşi repaired river vessels captured turkish danube fleet. on 12 june got first naval command in russian service, bringing dispatches on galiot azov. 13 november brought dispatches southern army saint petersburg. on occasion introduced empress , made favourable impression on enthusiastic plans black sea fleet.

accordingly, on 23 april 1773 became flotilla-commander in black sea. force rather insignificant consisting of 2 ketches of twelve cannon each , 2 yachts. van kinsbergen decided nevertheless moment had arrived make name himself , acted aggressively limited powers allowed. entered sea of marmara through bosporus, charted first western european ever, entered dardanelles , returned black sea after duelling coastal fortress of istanbul.

twice year defeated turkish fleet , won title hero of black sea . on 23 june, encountered turkish flotilla of 3 frigates of 52 cannon , ship-of-the-line of 75 , despite disparity in firepower @ once attacked , wiped out, first major christian naval victory in black sea in 4 centuries.

his superiors pleased , gave him permission raid sinope, changed mission intercept transport fleet headed crimea. in morning of 2 september spotted enemy fleet off novorossiysk @ same time messenger brought him order abandon attack in view of force imbalance: van kinsbergen s original 2 ketches had been reinforced single frigate of 32 cannon , fireship, while turkish fleet numbered 4 ships-of-the-line, 7 frigates , 6 transports 5 thousand men infantry.

determined give battle anyway, van kinsbergen declared in front of officers such order not possibly authentic, arrested messenger , pursued attack. conforming standard tactics of day, turkish fleet sailed in formal line-of-battle. van kinsbergen realized doing likewise result in quick annihilation of flotilla , therefore applied modern concentration of forces: using weather gauge frontally attacked leading turkish vessel, causing following turkish ships break formation.

during ensuing melee turkish fleet got damaged , confused abandoned landing attempt , withdrew. van kinsbergen s insubordination forgiven , on 22 september rewarded order of st. george, in fourth degree, rather disappointed him.

after war, van kinsbergen feared not promoted , in november 1774 obtained temporary discharge russian service. although catherine great gladly have kept him on in russian navy, promoted him captain first class , knight in third degree (from 1776 second degree) asked accepted dutch service in may 1775, august travelled via saint petersburg , berlin republic, obtained final honourable discharge russian service in december, , 1776 in service of dutch.

return dutch republic

in 1776 van kinsbergen readmitted admiralty of amsterdam full captain, raised quite few eyebrows deal stadtholder william had been kept secret. in period tensions between united kingdom , dutch republic, caused american revolution, led dutch efforts build fleet , therefore increased career opportunities dutch officers. 17 may 1776 van kinsbergen sent on international expedition, captain of amphitrite, against morocco enforce treaty upon mohammed ben abdallah limit privateering activities of barbary corsairs; on 27 june envoy present @ signing of treaty @ salé, returning republic in october. in 1778 captain of frigate argo; in october went again salé deliver treaty document ratified states-general of netherlands. after returning , argo part of convoy temporarily detained superior british fleet on 31 december 1779 in search of contraband france, affair of fielding , bylandt. dutch populace outraged event, refusing further cooperate measures directed @ blockading america , war britain became inevitable, though dutch ill-prepared it. in 1780 van kinbergen became member of commission should strengthen dutch coastal defences. meanwhile, had published great number of articles , booklets regarding naval reorganisation; in 1780 sailor s compendium appeared, written cooperation of religious author joannes florentius martinet , aimed @ improving discipline. officers should exemplary role model , abstain gambling, boozing, whoring , swearing — except in latter case when giving orders, in van kinsbergen s experience tended followed better if containing few curses.

late republican navy

early 1781, british started series of surprise attacks on dutch ships , colonies , thereby fourth anglo-dutch war. inferior dutch home fleet avoided direct confrontation van kinsbergen, on 12 february having been appointed temporary rear-admiral, played important role in major naval fight of war, battle of dogger bank, flotilla commander, second in command rear-admiral johan zoutman. van kinsbergen on admiraal-generaal escorted merchant convoy when accident encountered british squadron superior in firepower , managed beat off attacks. dutch jubilant , van kinsbergen acquired status of naval hero. honoured stadholder william v being awarded special dogger bank medal, dutch republic had no honorary military orders. william in need of popular figurehead bolster regime , on 14 august 1781 appointed van kinsbergen adjutant-general , used him permanent naval advisor. way van kinsbergen became de facto supreme naval commander , gained wider political influence, having regular talks orangist leaders on how best counter patriots. on 10 may 1782 became major, commanding newly raised marine unit. same year published general instructions regarding naval service , fundamentals of naval tactics, translated russian in 1792. in october commanded squadron headed norway escort voc return fleet; in absence on 10 october appointed member of new secret council naval affairs.

in 1783, wearied endless criticism of dutch naval policy, considered return russian service persuaded stadtholder remain. in 1784 , 1785 went mediterranean on jupiter, partly deter possible attack venice. @ toulon received news investigating commission had concluded blame so-called brest affair , failure of attempt in summer of 1782 form combined spanish-french-dutch fleet in english channel. in reaction sent resignation william, again stadtholder managed change admiral s mind. in february 1786 returned part of squadron. on 23 july 1786 married first time, hester hooft, wealthy daughter of amsterdam burgomaster , widow of schepen george clifford iv.

in 1787 relationship stadtholder became strained when latter used prussian military intervention repress patriots. van kinsbergen s house in amsterdam searched soldiers evidence of secret dealings william s enemies, though nothing more incriminating found sabres , pistols. @ time van kinsbergen had left republic however: on honeymoon in germany, being received in vienna joseph ii, holy roman emperor. again, envoys of catharina tried make him re-enter russian service, offering him rank of vice-admiral , command of black sea fleet, after consideration refused in march 1788, though stadtholder had consented change of service in february. on 8 april 1789 refused become danish commander-in-chief; on 16 december appointed dutch vice-admiral. in 1790 commanded auxiliary squadron, joining english fleet possible conflict spain. in 1791 , 1792, revolutionary france attacked republic , van kinsbergen stayed on land, writing number of publications. on 3 march 1793, became admiral-commander-in-chief of hollandic , zealandic fleet , commander of naval-artillery corps, in summer beating off french invasion attempt cross hollands diep. on 11 august 1793 appointed lieutenant-admiral. in 1794 allied rhine defences collapsed , french in 1795 march unopposed on frozen dutch water line, bringing patriots power.

in disgrace batavian republic

on 17 january 1795 @ scheveningen took leave departing stadtholder, fled england, never return. in absence of admiral-general van kinbergen supreme commander; england apparently being new enemy took measures prevent dutch ships , ports falling english hands. on 29 january , again on 9 february bade states-general relieved duty. however, these @ moment being replaced new revolutionary regime, instated french: batavian republic. on 24 february arrested on orders of provisional representatives of province of holland, revolutionaries had appointed provisional government. again released, casheered entire naval officer corps on 27 february. although urged him ask new regime reinstated, van kinsbergen, confused , depressed, did not bother. on 26 april wife died , in june accepted danish offer become vice-admiral , commander-in-chief. however, revolutionary regime refused give him permission leave country , in 1796 pressured denmark withdraw appointment, though nominally stayed in danish service until 1806.

in 1796 van kinsbergen returned old house of deceased parents in elburg, dedicating life philanthropy. created naval academy in elburg , orphanage in apeldoorn; in 1799 health moved estate near latter town, welgelegen, former property of deceased younger brother. gradually batavian republic, in need of popular men legitimise power, began make overtures van kinsbergen: in 1797 suggested become supreme commander; in 1801 formal offer made. failed because demanded officers reinstated. 1806 grand pensionary rutger jan schimmelpenninck, man acquainted him, made personal , emotional appeal, admiral again refused.

kingdom of holland

however, in summer of 1806, on orders of emperor napoleon kingdom of holland created , brother, new king louis bonaparte, on 16 july appointed van kinsbergen member of dutch council of state , first chamberlain — , these first of long list of honours bestowed on old admiral: e.g. on 26 december made marshall, on 15 may 1808 marshal of hollandic naval forces , on 4 february 1810, when on french orders dutch marshals had degraded, appointed full admiral. on 4 may 1810 made count of dogger bank. on 11 october 1808 alexander of russia had awarded him star of order of st. andrew entailed order of st. alexander nevsky, order of white eagle, order of st. anne, first degree, , order of st. stanislaus.

in 1810 though, kingdom of holland annexed french empire , van kinsbergen degraded french vice-admiral. however, on 18 december 1810 made french count , on 2 january 1811 appointed french senator. van kinsbergen wrote napoleon on 11 january old move paris — knowing quite emperor had not intended him — , asked salary might redirected navy, causing annoyed napoleon react: proud holland sailor think can use me dole out alms? . meanwhile, van kinsbergen continued charitable works: e.g. in 1811 donated fire engine municipality of elburg.

continued appreciation kingdom of netherlands

late 1813 cossacks liberated territory of northern netherlands; van kinsbergen used knowledge of russian negotiate armistice between french forces occupying het loo , russian troops, preventing later royal palace plundered. raised 2 regiments of dutch volunteers besiege french garrison holding out in deventer. on 28 march 1814 appointed 1 of 6 hundred electors approve new dutch constitution. on 12 june 1814, appointed new sovereign prince, william vi of orange, titular lieutenant-admiral , on 11 july full lieutenant-admiral: in new united kingdom of netherlands purely honorary rank, bestowed great merit, in case of van kinsbergen excellent merits , constant patriotism . in 1815 became, on 8 july, knight grand cross of order of william.

cenotaph of van kinsbergen

the same year offered prize of 7 hundred guilder best commemorative volume events of 1813, won johannes van der palm. hendrik tollens won van kinsbergen s prize of 5 hundred guilder dutch national anthem, wien neêrlands bloed . in 1817 donated marble busts of christiaan huygens, pieter corneliszoon hooft, hugo de groot, herman boerhaave , peter paul rubens royal netherlands academy of arts , sciences in trippenhuis, works paulus joseph gabriël; bust same, of de ruyter, given amsterdam naval academy, festively carried fleet of boats through canals. wealthy merchant jan kluppel touched sight ordered bust of modest van kinsbergen himself sculpted gabriël, placed below of de ruyter.

on 20 november 1816 van kinsbergen received royal writ new king william of netherlands promoted jonkheer. died 3 years later shortly after 84th birthday @ apeldoorn, chronic lung disease, buried on 27 may. in 1821 marble grave monument finished gabriël in nieuwe kerk in amsterdam, cenotaph.