Gerrit Schimmelpenninck

Gerrit, Count Schimmelpenninck (25 February 1794 – 4 October 1863) was a Dutch businessman and politician.

Early life and business career Gerrit Schimmelpenninck was born in Amsterdam on 25 February 1794. His parents were Catharina Nahuijs and Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck, who had a law firm in Amsterdam and would serve as grand pensionary of the Batavian Commonwealth between 1805 and 1806. He had an older sister, Catherina "Kitty", and the family moved to The Hague in 1796, when Rutger Jan became a National Assembly member. They returned to Amsterdam the following year after he decided not to seek another term in the Assembly. Rutger Jan was appointed ambassador of the Batavian Republic to France in Paris in June 1798, causing the family to relocate again. Schimmelpenninck joined the supervisory board of the Dutch Trading Company in 1835, staying on until his appointment as general secretary. His term ended on 30 November 1836, but his successor, , had been acting in the position since 22 September.

He and his family moved to Saint Petersburg after he was appointed extraordinary envoy and minister plenipotentiary of the Russian court by William I in 1837. He served in his post for three years, and he had been made municipal councilor in Diepenheim and chairman of the church council upon his return to his estate.

He died in Arnhem on 4 October 1863.

Honours

Commander in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (1849) Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (1851)