J.F.A. Cateau van Rosevelt

Johannes François Adriaan Cateau van Rosevelt (Hattem, September 7, 1824[1] – Paramaribo, October 20, 1891) was a Dutch director in Suriname where he was, among other things, agent-general for immigration and States member.

Family

Cateau van Rosevelt was a son of François Abraham Cateau of Rosevelt (1786-1848), recipient of taxes, and Antonia van Wijhe (1790-1862) and a grandson of François Adriaan van Rosevelt Cateau. In 1870 he married the former slave Josephina Leentje Haver (1832-1906), with whom he had six premarital children and who had obtained a manumission from her owner A.M. Brandon in 1849.[2]

Career

Cateau van Rosevelt came to Suriname at the age of 21 as a sailor and gunner. He was a man of great versatility and unparalleled work ethic. In his eventful life he was successively light sailor, mate, explorer, cartographer of the Surinamese interior. The Rosevelt peak in the interior of Suriname is named after him. Between 1868 and 1871 he was district commissioner in charge of the management of Lower and Upper Saramacca. He was a member of the Colonial States from 1873 until his death.

In 1872 he was appointed the first agent general for immigration. In that position, he oversaw the immigration of contract workers and mediated in labour disputes. He received the first Hindu immigrants, who disembarked on June 5, 1873. He had the confidence of the contract workers, which was evident, for example, by the fact that many kept their savings with him. His nickname was "Kuli-papa", father of the Hindus. After his death in Suriname at the age of 68, he was succeeded as Immigration Agent-General by George Barnet Lyon.

Cateau van Rosevelt is buried in the New Orange Garden cemetery in Paramaribo.

Sources
  • C.F.A. Bruijning en J. Voorhoeve (red.), Encyclopedie van Suriname, Amsterdam/Brussel 1977, ISBN 9010018423.
  • L. Lapikás, Fragment Genealogie Cateau van Rosevelt, version 1.1, Muiden, 2012
  • https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Cateau_van_Rosevelt

References
  1. In oudere biografische publicaties staat vaak onjuist 1823 vermeld, "Burgerlijke Stand Hattem" (Database) (in Dutch). Gelders Archief, Arnhem. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. Ten Hove, Okke. "Suriname: vrijgelaten slaven en hun eigenaren (manumissies)". Retrieved 20 April 2020.
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