Johannes Camphuys

Born in Haarlem, the Republic of the United Netherlands, Camphuys was a famous merchant in the service of the Dutch East India Company and ardent promoter of science.

Sent to the Dutch East Indies Johannes started his career as a junior merchant and eventually reached the post of a governor general from 1684 until 1691. He was sent three times to Japan as a chief factor (opperhoofd) of the company and officer of a trading post on Dejima Island in the harbor of Nagasaki on the southern island of Kyushu.

Camphuys was also known as zealous promoter of science, and as the author of a treatise about the Kingdom of Jakarta conquered by Jan Pietersz Coen. He also encouraged the work of scholars such as Engelbert Kaempfer and Georg Eberhard Rumphius.

After his retirement Camphuys remained living in his country house near Batavia and he also had an estate on the island of Edam in the bay of Batavia.