Arent Magnin

Arent Magnin (13 January 1825 – 19 September 1888) was a Dutch politician, who made a career in the administration on the Dutch Gold Coast and who later served as mayor in several Dutch municipalities.

Arent Magnin
Mayor of Veendam
In office 1880–1888
Preceded by	Deddo Harms Bosscher
Succeeded by	Willem Voormolen
Mayor of Beverwijk and Wijk aan Zee en Duin
In office 1867–1880
Preceded by	Jacob Johannes Delruël
Succeeded by	Johannes Paulus de Zwaan
Mayor of Hoogwoud
In office 1866–1867
Preceded by	Dirk Appel
Succeeded by	Johannes Paulus de Zwaan
Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast
ad interim
In office 4 May 1865 – 19 February 1866
Monarch	William III of the Netherlands
Preceded by	Henri Alexander Elias
Succeeded by	Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga
Personal details
Born	13 January 1825 Meppel, Netherlands
Died	19 September 1888 (aged 63) Veendam, Netherlands
Spouse(s)	Margaretha Moerman

Biography

Arent Magnin was born in Meppel to Jean Samuel Magnin and Grietien Wildeboer.[1] He was appointed assistant on the Gold Coast in 1857, serving as commandant of Fort Patience at Apam from 1858 onwards. He was also appointed replacement judge at the Court of Justice in Elmina. During the European leave of governor Cornelis Nagtglas, Magnin temporarily became second in command of the colony, serving as bookkeeper, secretary and public prosecutor under governor ad interim Cornelis Meeuwsen. Upon Nagtglas' return, he was installed adjutant to the governor. Magnin was granted European leave in September 1863.[2][1]

When Magnin returned to the Gold Coast in September 1864, he was promoted to the rank of resident, and again shortly became second in command until governor Henri Alexander Elias returned from European leave in late 1864. After governor Elias retired to Europe for good a few months later, Magnin was installed governor ad interim. Magnin served from 4 May 1865 until 19 February 1866, when the newly appointed governor Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga arrived on the Gold Coast. Magnin was then honourably discharged, retiring from service on the Gold Coast and returning to Europe.[2][3][1]

In the Netherlands, Magnin was appointed mayor of Hoogwoud in 1866, of Beverwijk and Wijk aan Zee en Duin in 1867 and of Veendam in 1880. He was still mayor of the latter place when he died in 1888.[1]

Personal life

Magnin married Margaretha Moerman with whom he had six children.[1]

Decorations

• Legion d'Honneur

References

1. Michel Doortmont. "Magnin, Arent". GoldCoastDataBase. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
2. "Nederlandse Bezittingen op de Kust van Guinea, nummer toegang 1.05.14, inventarisnummer 952". nationaalarchief.nl. Nationaal Archief. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
3. "Nederlandse Bezittingen op de Kust van Guinea, nummer toegang 1.05.14, inventarisnummer 953". nationaalarchief.nl. Nationaal Archief. Retrieved 27 May 2020.