15 Facts About Cornelius Vermuyden

Cornelius Vermuyden was born in 1595 in Haestinge on the Isle of Tholen in the Zeeland province of the Dutch Republic.

Cornelius Vermuyden trained in the Netherlands as an engineer, learning Dutch techniques for controlling water and draining marshland.

The latter project was financed by Joas Croppenburg, a Dutch haberdasher to whom Cornelius Vermuyden was related by marriage.

Cornelius Vermuyden was to receive one third of the drained land, most of which had previously been commons, as recompense for his investment.

Cornelius Vermuyden had later signed a legal document giving up all subsequent rights of enclosure within the manor.

Cornelius Vermuyden was knighted in 1629 for his work, and became a British citizen in 1633.

Contrary to popular belief, Cornelius Vermuyden was not involved with the draining of the "Great Fen" in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk in the 1630s.

Cornelius Vermuyden did not participate until the second phase of construction in the 1650s.

Cornelius Vermuyden reversed the granting of Bedford's contract and declared himself as the principal in the project, taking 52,000 acres and leaving the other parties with only 40,000 acres.

Cornelius Vermuyden widened the River Nene below Horseshoe Sluice, banking the north side of Morton's Leam.

Cornelius Vermuyden established Denver Sluice to stop tides and flood water from depositing silt into the Great Ouse to the east of Ely.

Cornelius Vermuyden had a total of nine children with Katherine, including Charles, Deborah, Elizabeth, and John.

Cornelius Vermuyden lived in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden in 1647 and had a home in Kelfield, North Lincolnshire.

Cornelius Vermuyden is the namesake for the Vermuyden Group of South Yorks, a Long Distance Walkers Association based in South Yorkshire, and the Vermuyden Concert Band, the most senior Saturday afternoon band at William Appleby Music Centre in Doncaster.

Cornelius Vermuyden's motto was adopted as the official motto of South Cambridgeshire District Council.