Peter
Stuyvesant was
born in Holland in 1592. Stuyvesant served
in the Dutch Army before being appointed director-general of New Netherland
in 1646. A dictatorial leader, Stuyvesant was unpopular with the other
settlers. However, during his eighteen year administration, the population
grew from 2,000 to 8,000.
In 1664 the English fleet arrived and
demanded the surrender of the New Netherlands. Stuyvesant wanted to
fight but without the support of the other settlers, he was forced
to allow the English to take control of the territory. New Amsterdam
now became New York. Stuyvesant continued
to live on his estate on Manhattan Island until his death in 1672.
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