Gerrit de Heere

Gerrit Jansz de Heere (1 March 1657 – 26 November 1702) was a Governor of Dutch Ceylon during its Dutch period.

Gerrit de Heere
14th Governor of Dutch Ceylon
In office 22 February 1697 – 26 November 1702 (1697-02-22 – 1702-11-26)
Preceded by	Thomas van Rhee
Succeeded by	Cornelis Jan Simonsz
Chief Trader at Dejima
In office 19 October 1693 – 7 November 1694 (1693-10-19 – 1694-11-07)
Preceded by	Hendrick van Buijtenhem
Succeeded by	Hendrik Dijkman
Personal details
Born	Gerrit Jansz de Heere (1657-03-01)1 March 1657 Amsterdam, Dutch Republic
Died	26 November 1702(1702-11-26) (aged 45) Colombo, Dutch Ceylon
Spouse	Johanna van Riebeeck ​ ​ (m. 1695)​

Biography

De Heere was the son of Johan Gerritsz de Heere and Marritje Gerrits. From 1693 until 1694, he served as Chief Trader at Dejima, after which he became a senior merchant in Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies. In 1695, he married Johanna Maria van Riebeeck, who was 22 years his junior and a daughter of Abraham van Riebeeck as well as a granddaughter to Jan van Riebeeck, founder of Cape Town.^[1]

De Heere was appointed Governor of Dutch Ceylon on 22 February 1697, which he remained until his death on 26 November 1702, and was succeeded by Cornelis Jan Simonsz.^[2]