Jacob Cornelis Matthieu Radermacher, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJacob Cornelis Matthieu Radermacher
dutch botanist
Date of Birth: 01-Jan-1741
Place of Birth: The Hague, County of Holland, Netherlands
Date of Death: 24-Dec-1783
Profession: botanist
Nationality: Netherlands
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn 
About Jacob Cornelis Matthieu Radermacher
- Jacob Cornelis Matthieu (J.
- C.
- M.) Radermacher (1741 – 24 December 1783) was a Dutch botanist and author. Radermacher was born in The Hague, Holland.
- He was an officer of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Batavia (Jakarta) as well as a talented naturalist.
- Born into an influential Dutch family, his father was Jacob Cornelis Radermacher (1700-1748), who was treasurer-general to the prince.
- His uncle and his nephew were members of the Board of Directors of the VOC.
- In 1757, then only sixteen years old, he had traveled to Indonesian to work as a merchant for the VOC.
- On 21 May 1761 Jacob married Margaretha Sophia Verijssel.
- In 1762 Radermacher created a Freemasonic circle in Batavia becoming the first Freemasonic lodge in Asia.
- In 1763 he returned to Holland to continue his studies, and graduated in law at Harderwijk.
- After graduation on 13 June 1766 he established himself as a lawyer in Arnhem.
- After a short time, Radermacher made the decision to return to Batavia.
- On 20 December 1766 with his wife Margaretha and two sons Frans Reinier and Johannes Cornelis, they boarded the ship Tulpenburg bound for Indonesia.
- His youngest son, Johannes Cornelis, still an infant, died within one month of their departure.
- By 1776, Radermacher was promoted by the VOC to title of "Extra-Ordinair Council of India". During his years in Batavia, Radermacher was a staunch promoter of the arts and sciences in the Far East.
- On 24 April 1778 he founded the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences ("Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en etenschappen").
- He also donated a substantial amount of writings and collections to start the museum.
- During this time he also catalogued a significant amount of flora and fauna of the islands of Java and Sumatra.
- The trees of the genus "Radermachera" are named for him. By 1781 Radermacher was named Commissioner Concerning the Fleet and the Army, and Common Council of India.
- After the death of his first wife, he married Bataviase Anna Bosch.
- For health reasons in 1783, he requested permission to return to Holland.
- However, while en route home in the Indian Ocean on 24 December, there was a mutiny on board the ship and Radermacher was murdered.
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