'Zonder eigen gewinne en glorie' : Mr. Iman Wilhelm Falck (1736-1785), gouverneur en directeur van Ceylon en Onderhorigheden

Dulm, F. van der (2012)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis is about the gentleman-lawyer Falck, his period in office as Governor of Ceylon from the age of 28 and his surroundings. The historian Stapel described him as the last great figure in the Company. He differentiated from his contemporaries and predecessors. The research pays extensive attention to his networks, new insight into the relations between the qualified servants of the Company in Asia and the State. Falcks'administrative vision amd political strategy was directed at keeping the British and French at safe distance in South India. Therefore a balance had to be maintained between the various parties over there. His ideas were at odds with the strictly neutral policy of the Republic and Batavia. Thanks to the support of Mysore and the French fleet, the security of Ceylon could be greatly assured during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. The Company governors were always extremely satisfied with him; he w as highly respected by all even in Kandy. In 1783 he declined the honour of becoming director-general; he was very sisappointed about the lack of support, exhausted and and suffered from a poor health. During twenty years he gave impetus to the construction of cinnamon gardens.

• South India
• Prosopography
• Fourth Anglo Dutch War
• Dutch Ceylon
• Cinnamon gardens
• Biography
• 18th Century
• Utrecht
• Dutch East India Company

• All authors: Dulm, F. van der
• Supervisor: Groenveld, S.
• Co-supervisor: Wagenaar, L.J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2012-02-09
• Publisher: Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren
• Court: LEI Universiteit Leiden
• Sponsorship: M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Stichting