Francisco Pelsaert

Francisco Pelsaert was a Dutch merchant who worked for the Dutch East Indies Company, and is best known as the commander of the ship Batavia.

Born in Antwerp Pelsaert arrived to India in 1618 where he was posted as a junior merchant in company’s service. Eventually he was sent to Agra where he acted as a Dutch factor (1620-1727) achieving the post of a senior merchant in the meantime. That experience inspired him to write an account of the Mogul Empire which was published under the title “Jahangir's India. The Remonstrantie of Francisco Pelsaert”.

After a brief return to the Netherlands in 1628, Pelsaert departed for Java soon thereafter in command of the ship named Batavia which carried a cargo of coins, jewels and ivory. The purpose of this voyage was to exchange these commodities for valuable spices and other commodities.

In 1629 the Batavia was wrecked on remote islands off the coast of Australia. Although Pelsaert managed to get help from Batavia, a capital of the Dutch East Indies and suppress the mutiny among the crew after his return, that event marked the end of his successful career in the company.