Willem Kieft

Categories: 1597 births | 1647 deaths | New Netherland

Willem Kieft (1597-1647) was a Dutch merchant and director general of New Netherland (of which New Amsterdam, later New York City, was the primary settlement), from 1638 until 1647. Peter Stuyvesant succeeded him as director general of New Netherland in August 1647.

Kieft was lost at sea on his way back to the Netherlands.nl:Willem Kieft