Johan van Scharphuizen

Joan or Johan van Scharphuysen, Scharphuizen or Jan van Scherpenhuizen (died 15 January 1699) was a Dutch colonist, a judge in Suriname, a slave-trader, colonial governor from 1689 to 1696 on behalf of the Society of Surinam, (Sociëteit van Suriname) and a considerable plantation-owner.

Van Scharphuizen most probably had his roots in Zeeland: he was a brother-in-law to both Johannes Basseliers, the first Dutch vicar in Suriname (1668) and a rich planter, and to Jan Meunicx, both originating from Middelburg, where the Dutch West India Company had a strong base. The Meunicx family, regents and respected traders, settled as one of the first Dutch families in Suriname arriving just before or after Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham had left the colony.

From 1677 Van Scharphuizen served as a member in the Raad van Politie (Council of Police). From 1678 to 1684 he lived in Zeeland and Holland to guard the interests of the plantation owners in Suriname. In 1682 he was counselled to develop a patent to the Society of Surinam. He was involved in slave trade in 1685 and then moved again to the Dutch Republic.

On December 20, 1688 Van Scharphuizen was installed as governor of the colony. He set sail on January 14, 1689 and set foot ashore on March 12, accompanied by François van Aerssen (1669–1740), the son of the former and assassinated governor. Van Scharphuizen was immediately involved in several complicated cases: an attack by French pirate and slave trader Jean Baptiste du Casse; dealing with the complicated legacy of his predecessor, Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck - Van Scharphuizen corrected some illegitimate tax rules, originating from his predecessor - and a case of illegal transport and selling of slaves on his name. Besides Van Scharphuizen got into a conflict with Jeronimo Clifford, an English planter, who inherited through marriage the largest plantation in the colony. Clifford wanted to leave and move his equipment and slaves to Jamaica, but was forced to stay in Suriname; he was fined considerably and while he refused to pay for seven years imprisoned in Fort Sommelsdijck. In the meantime his plantation was ruined and occupied. When Clifford was released he requested the Society of Surinam and the States-General of the Netherlands for 241,894 Dutch Guilders as a compensation, but the money was never paid for unstandable reasons.)

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