Willem Janszoon

Willem Janszoon
Bornc. 1570
Diedc. 1630
Other namesWillem Jansz.
Occupation(s)Navigator and colonial governor
Known forEuropean discovery of Australia

Willem Janszoon (Dutch: [ˈʋɪləm ˈjɑnsoːn]; c. 1570 – c. 1630), sometimes abbreviated to Willem Jansz.,[1] was a Dutch navigator and colonial governor. Janszoon served in the Dutch East Indies in the periods 1603–1611 and 1612–1616, including as governor of Fort Henricus on the island of Solor.[2] During his voyage of 1605–1606, he became the first European known to have seen the coast of Australia.

  1. ^ The patronymic Janszoon means 'son of Jan,' or 'son of Johannes' (Janszoon in Dutch). In the early seventeenth century, this was in some dialects probably pronounced the same as Jansen, a name equivalent to Johnson in English. Surnames were usually not used and children were simply named for their father's given name. In areas where not many people lived, but also in towns and cities, he would simply be given the name Willem Jansz; thus, all that is known about him is that his father's name was Johannes or Jan. As in many countries, genealogical and historical research in the Netherlands can be difficult for this reason. See Note on 17th Century Dutch names. Project Gutenberg of Australia. 31 July 2005.
  2. ^ Mutch (1942), p43

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