Julius Constantijn Rijk

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Julius Constantin Rijk (Portrait of I. H. Hoffmeister)

Julius Constantijn Rijk (born January 13, 1787 in Wetzlar , † May 2, 1854 in The Hague ) was a conservative Dutch politician of the 19th century and a governor of Suriname .

Life

Rijk has been associated with the navy all his life . He volunteered there in 1799 and ended his career in the Navy as Vice-Admiral . He came from a humble background and, through self-study, developed into a respected hydrograph and naval officer. He was adjutant to several vice-admirals, director of pilotage and commander of naval training in Medemblik . Membership with the Freemasons is credited with making his career go so well. Rijk was governor of Suriname for three years and minister of the navy under Wilhelm II . Even after the liberal turnaround of 1848 (including amendment of the Basic Law, the Netherlands became a constitutional monarchy) he retained his ministerial post in the Schimmelpenninck cabinet and in the De Kempenaer / Donker Curtius cabinet for some time. After the “April Movement” of 1853 he was elected as a member of the Conservatives to MP in The Hague.

His grave is in the Dutch cemetery Oud Eik en Duinen in The Hague .

See also