Adrian Lampsins, sometimes called Adrien Lampsius,[1] (1598-1673) was the Baron of colonial Tobago, alongside his brother, Cornelius Lampsins.

Adrian Lampsins
Adriaan van Lampsin
Baron of Tobago
Reign1662 - 1666, 1673
Predecessornone
Successornone
Co-BaronCornelius Lampsins (until 1664)
Governor of New Courland
Reign1654 - 1656
PredecessorCornelius Caroon
SuccessorHubert de Beveren
Born1598
Vlissingen, Dutch Republic
Died1673 (aged 74–75)
Tobago
SpouseCamilla Canossa

Born to a wealthy merchant family in Vlissingen, in 1654 Adrian and Cornelius led a group of 50 colonists on the opposite side of Tobago of what was then New Courland, and named their settlement New Walcheren. A dispute arose between the Dutch and Couronian colonists, but the Dutch government arbitrated and declared Courland as the legitimate claimant to Tobago. In 1659, however, Courland was seized by Sweden, and the colony was now in the hands of the Dutch.

In 1662, the brothers Lampsins collaborated with King Louis XIV of France, and were given the title of the "Barons of Tobago," a title they held until the loss of Tobago to the English in 1666. Approximately 1,500 settlers lived under the rule of the Lampsins brothers.[2]

In 1673, Adrian and the late Cornelius' son Jan briefly again retook Tobago, but the island was recaptured by an English force under Sir Tobias Bridge, and Adrian was killed alongside his nephew when the fort was blown up.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Charles De Rochefort (1665). Le tableau de l'isle de Tabago, ou de la Nouvelle Oüalchre, l'une des isles Antilles de l'Amérique, dependante de la souveraineté des hauts et puissants seigneurs les estats generaus des Provinces Unies des Pays-Bas. Chez Jean le Carpentier. pp. 66–72.
  2. ^ Arbell, Mordehay. “Jewish Settlement in Tobago.” The Jewish Nation of the Caribbean: the Spanish-Portuguese Jewish Settlements in the Caribbean and the Guianas, Gefen Pub., 2002, pp. 61–64.
  3. ^ Riddell (Author), Henri de Bourbon (comte de Chambord.), John. “The Patent of Baron to C Van Lampsins.” The Pedigree of the Duchess of Mantua, Montferrat and Ferrara, Oxford University, 1885, pp. 8–10.