Jacob Kettler
| Jacob Kettler | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Courland and Semigallia | |
 |
|
| Duke of Courland and Semigallia | |
| Reign | 17 August 1642 – 1 January 1682 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Kettler |
| Successor | Frederick Casimir Kettler |
| Born |
28 October 1610 Goldingen (Kuldīga) |
| Died | 1 January 1682 (aged 71) Mitau (Jelgava) |
| Burial | Ducal crypt in the Jelgava Palace |
| Spouse | Margravine Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg |
| Issue | Ladislaus Louis Frederick Kettler Frederick Casimir Kettler Charles Jacob Kettler Ferdinand Kettler Alexander Kettler Louise Elisabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg Christina Sophia Kettler Charlotte Sophia Kettler, Abbess of Herford Maria Amalia, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel |
| House | Kettler |
| Father | Wilhelm Kettler |
| Mother | Duchess Sophie of Prussia |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Jacob Kettler (German: Jakob von Kettler) (28 October 1610 – 1 January 1682) was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1642–1682). Under his rule, the duchy reached its peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.
Kettler was born in Goldingen (Kuldīga). He was the son of Wilhelm Kettler and Sofie Hohenzollern, Princess of Prussia, a daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia. He was the godson of King James I of England. While his father was exiled from the duchy, Jacob lived in the courts of Stettin and Berlin. He studied in and at the University of Leipzig and sympathized with the ideas of mercantilism. In 1634 Jacob traveled through the Europe. He visited Paris, London and studied shipbuilding in Amsterdam. In 1638 he became co-ruler of the duchy and in 1642 he became sole duke of Courland.
Under Kettler's rule, the duchy traded with nations like the Netherlands, Portugal, England, and France. He started large scale reforms of the duchy's economy. The Duke improved the agriculture, opened many manufactures and started active shipbuilding. During Jacob's reign the Duchy became de facto independent from the Polish crown because all contracts with foreign powers were signed as between independent countries. Since 1646 all customs administration of the Duchy also was in the Duke's power.
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