Pieter Nuyts

Born at Middelburg as a son of a textile merchant, Nuyts became involved in his father's business after completing education at the University of Leiden. Highly ambitions and hoping for profits he decided to join the Dutch East India Company in 1626. Education and trading experience ensured him rapid promotion within the company's ranks.

Determined to thrive Nuyts headed for Batavia, the company's centre in the East Indies. Around that time, the Dutch East India Company ordered a thorough investigation of the South Land, and Nuyts joined a landmark expedition in 1626-1627. This voyage proved to be historical since it resulted in the first definite chart of the southern coast and the first knowledge of what became South Australia. Since he was the highest-ranking official on the ship, the region was named ′t Landt van Pieter Nuyts (Pieter Nuyts' Land) after him.

For his contributions Nuyts was soon afterwards appointed an ambassador to Japan for the Dutch East India Company and Governor of Formosa (Taiwan). However, the negotiations with the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, ruler of Japan and his attempts to open trade with China resulted in failure.

Moreover, his poor management and dedication to his own financial interests, ended in 1629 when he was recalled to Batavia, and subsequently suspended, fined and arrested. After he was finally released, Nuyts decided to return to Netherlands where he became a landowner and mayor of Hulster Ambacht and of Hulst.