11 Facts About Frederick Coyett

Frederick Coyett was the first Swede to travel to Japan and China and became the last governor of Formosa.

Frederick could be Fredrik or Fredrick, and Coyett was spelled Coyet, Coignet or Coijet.

Frederick Coyett was the brother-in-law of Francois Caron, both involved in releasing ten Dutch prisoners.

Frederick Coyett was able to maintain an optimal diplomatic stance vis-a-vis the bakufu in the face of several difficulties and provocations.

Frederick Coyett's status was enhanced when he and his brother Peter Julius were ennobled by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1649.

Frederick Coyett is mostly known as the last Dutch East India Company governor of Taiwan.

Frederick Coyett said that Chinese were "little better than poor specimens of very effeminate men", when he believed that there was no plan to invade Taiwan.

Frederick Coyett was pardoned and exiled to Rosengain, the most eastern of the Banda Islands, before he was released in 1674.

Frederick Coyett's son Balthasar Frederick Coyett, born to his first wife Susanna Boudaens in 1650, followed his father into service with the Dutch East India Company, eventually rising to become the Governor of Ambon.

Frederick Coyett was known as a collector for Hindu and Buddhist art, and known to decorate his country house with these objects.

Some of Frederick Coyett's sculptures are still displayed in the building, currently the Vihara Buddhayana in Jakarta.