1. Willem Usselincx was a Flemish Dutch merchant, investor and diplomat who was instrumental in drawing both Dutch and Swedish attention to the importance of the New World.
13 Facts About Willem Usselincx
1. 2.
Willem Usselincx was born in Antwerp, during a time of major upheaval and change.
3.
Willem Usselincx's lifespan covered the period of the Eighty Years' War, which was a Dutch Revolt against Spain that resulted in the secession of seven provinces that came to form the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.
4.
Willem Usselincx had spent some time in Spain, Portugal and on the Azores.
5.
Some time after the seizure of Antwerp by the Spanish in 1585, Willem Usselincx moved to the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, first to Middelburg and later to Amsterdam.
6.
Willem Usselincx was convinced that the Netherlands would win independence and should capture colonies from Spain and Portugal.
7.
In 1621, Willem Usselincx was one of the founding fathers of the Dutch West India Company, an enterprise he had planned for many years.
8.
Willem Usselincx hoped to create a new and better society.
9.
Willem Usselincx expected that thousands of Protestants would migrate to America.
10.
Willem Usselincx did not wish so much to exploit the country, but rather to let arise a New Netherland.
11.
Willem Usselincx, drew the attention of Peter Minuit to Swedish efforts to found the colony which would later become New Sweden.
12.
Willem Usselincx referred to the wealth acquired by Spain and The Netherlands in similar enterprises and extolled Sweden's resources for success in the marketplace.
13.
Willem Usselincx relocated from The Netherlands to Sweden but the process of the founding of the new company was difficult and time-consuming, despite the support of Axel Oxenstierna, Swedish Lord High Chancellor.