Nicolaus Witsen ( 1641 - 1717 )

Birth: Amsterdam, Netherlands (08 May 1641) Death: Amsterdam, Netherlands (10 August 1717) Research Field: Mathematics; Shipbuilding Education: Leyden; LLD (1664) Career: Travelled to Moscow as Secretary to the Dutch Legation (1664); travelled in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Germany; Member of the Dutch East India Company; Burgomaster of Amsterdam 13 times (1682-); assisted French Refugees after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685), earning the epithet 'Consolateur des Francois affligez' from Gregorio Leti (FRS 1681); Negotiator for the Accession of William III to the throne of England (1689); Curator of Leyden University in succession to Coenraad van Beuningen (FRS 1682); friend of Czar Peter the Great on his visit to Holland (1698) Membership: Fellow Election Date: 30/11/1689.