Gerard Bicker (I) van Swieten

Gerard Bicker (I) van Swieten, Lord of Swieten (25 March 1632 – 8 March 1716) was a Dutch aristocrat and civil servant.

Biography Origin

Gerard Bicker was born in Amsterdam, a member of the notable Bicker family. His parents were Cornelis Bicker and Aertge Witsen. In 1660 he inherited the Swieten estate from his father and henceforth bore the name Bicker van Swieten. He had four sisters, three of whom were married to Amsterdam mayors; Margaretha ⚭ in second marriage to Cornelis Geelvinck, Alida ⚭ to Lambert Reynst and Elisabeth ⚭ to her uncle and 2nd cousin Andries de Graeff. His other close relatives were his brothers-in-law (through her 2nd marriage with her full cousin Cornelia Bicker in 1658) Grand pensionary Johan de Witt (through his marriage to Cornelia's sister Wendela Bicker), Pieter de Graeff, who was already his multiple cousin before (through his marriage to Cornelia's sister Jacoba), Jean Deutz (through his marriage to Cornelia's sister Geertruid) and Jacob Trip (through his marriage to Cornelia's sister Elisabeth). His brothers-in-law where important and loyal political allies to Grand pensionary De Witt. Through another cousin of him, Cornelia Bicker (1629–1708), he was also related to Joachim Irgens von Westervick, politician and with his Irgens Estate Norway's largest private landowner. He had another connection with Jacob de Petersen, a former Danish dignitary, who was married to Catharina Bicker (1642-1678), daughter of knight Jacob Bicker (1612-1676) and Alida Bicker (a daughter of Gerard's uncle Andries Bicker).

Marriages and descendants

Bicker has been married three times. In 1655 he married his first wife Alida van Papenbroek (1633–1656), daughter of Pieter van Papenbroek and his cousin Wendela de Graeff. Agnieta (* 1659), Aertgen (* 1661) and Cornelis Bicker van Swieten (1663-1689) came from his marriage. He was also Meesterknaap van Holland en West-Friesland, and 1664 Hoogheemraad of Rijnland. From 1685 Pieter de Graeff was the sole owner. He died in Leiderdorp.