François Caron

François Caron served the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for 30 years, rising from cabin boy to Director-General at Batavia (Jakarta), only one grade below Governor-General. Later, he was Director-General of the French East Indies Company (1667–1673)

Caron began his service to the VOC as a cook's mate on a ship Schiedam bound for Japan, where he arrived in 1619. He stayed in Japan over twenty years, from 1619 to 1641, developing his language and merchant’s skills, eventually, in 1639, becoming the VOC's opperhoofd (chief merchant) in Japan.

In 1641, Caron left Japan, and he went to Batavia awaiting a transfer to Europe, which came on December 13, 1641, when he sailed back to Europe as commander of the merchant fleet. He returned to Asia in 1643, and in the same year fought against the Portuguese in Ceylon. The next year he was named governor of Formosa (Taiwan), and remained chief VOC’s official on the island until 1646 when he returned to Batavia. There, Caron he was appointed Director-General in 1647 and was on that position until 1651 when he was recalled to the Netherlands due to allegations of private trade. Caron successfully defended his case, and was able to resign with honor from the VOC.

After his successful career within the VOC, Caron accepted a leadership role in the newly formed French East India Company. He helped the company to gain a foothold in the spice trade, and to establish posts along the African and Indian coast. While returning to Europe from India, Caron’s ship sank off Lisbon on April 5, 1673.