Misplaced Pages

#498501

110-705: Following plans by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden to establish a Swedish colony in North America, the Swedes arrived in Delaware Bay (Fort Christina) on March 29, 1638, aboard the ships Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip under the command of Peter Minuit , the former director of the New Netherland colony. They landed at a spot along the Christina River at a stone outcropping which formed

220-412: A bridge over it. Additional purchases that formed the basis of the family's wealth included the land now bounded on the north by Nassau , on the west by Ann , and as far as Gold, Pearl , Fulton , and Frankfort streets, and also the swamp below Pearl Street , which from that time on was known as "Beekman's Swamp" to Frankfort Square. He added land to his farm land owned by Isaac de Forest, near what

330-500: A cavalry charge on his wing. Lützen was a victory for the Protestants, but cost them their leader, which caused their campaign to lose direction and finally suffer a crushing defeat at Nördlingen . Towards 1:00 pm, in the thick mix of gun smoke and fog covering the field, the king was separated from his fellow riders and suffered multiple shots. A bullet crushed his left arm below the elbow. Almost simultaneously his horse suffered

440-639: A cousin of Gilbert. Colonel Henry Beekman was the recipient of two large tracts of land in Dutchess County, NY. One in the area of Rhinebeck, NY and the other, called the Back Lots or Beekman Patent, in the South east corner of Dutchess County. See Settlers of Beekman Patent for families who lived in this patent which was a manorial estate of the Beekman and Livingston families, who leased the land until

550-405: A historic event of 300 years ago, we stand united, as in our admiration of those early settlers from Sweden who were such worthy and resourceful people. Their love of freedom and their integrity they carried with them as a heritage from the land of their birth. We are happy to feel that in some measure they, as well as their successors during the intervening three centuries, were able to contribute to

660-456: A monument to Gustavus Adolphus was agreed to, and it was suggested by Superintendent Grossmann that the best memorial to Gustavus Adolphus would be the formation of a union for propagating his ideas. It quickly gained popularity in Germany. The lack of political correctness received some criticism; however, the organization used GAW as its brand in the meanwhile. The Swedish royal family visited

770-647: A natural wharf, known as "The Rocks." Minuit selected the site on the Christina River near the Delaware as being optimal for trade in beaver pelts with the local Lenape . He also considered the site easily defensible, and he ordered the construction of an earthwork fort around the Rocks. At the time, the Dutch had claimed the area south to the Delaware (then called "South River"). The Swedes claimed an area for

880-498: A petition signed by William Beekman, mayor, Johannes Van Brugh , John Laurence, Peter J. Morris, James Graham, Cornelius Van Steenwyck , and Nicholas Bayard , aldermen of the city, petitioning for a city charter. With the city's charter granted, on November 24 the "old magistrates" were discharged, ending Beekman's term, and Cornelius Van Steenwyk was appointed mayor. Beekman was elected East Ward Aldermen in 1685, and served to 1696, when he retired due to old age. In 1696, he

990-650: A quarrel between the Protestant and Catholic parties. The Brandenburg minister and diplomat baron Samuel von Winterfeld  [ de ] influenced Gustavus Adolphus to support and protect the Protestant side in Germany. When Gustavus Adolphus began his push into northern Germany in June–July 1630, he had just 4,000 troops. He was soon able to consolidate the Protestant position in the north, however, using reinforcements from Sweden and money supplied by France at

1100-669: A round of this dynastic dispute, Gustavus Adolphus invaded Livonia when he was 31, beginning the Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629) . In the course of it he won a victory at Wallhof , fought at Gniew , Dirschau , and suffered a defeat at Trzciana . His reign became known from his actions a few years later when, in June 1630, he landed in Germany, marking the Swedish intervention in the Thirty Years' War . Gustavus Adolphus intervened on

1210-412: A shot to the neck that made it hard to control. In the mix of fog and smoke from the burning town of Lützen the king rode astray behind enemy lines. There he sustained yet another shot in the back, was stabbed and fell from his horse. Lying on the ground, he received a final, fatal shot to the temple. His fate remained unknown for some time. However, when the gunnery paused and the smoke cleared, his horse

SECTION 10

#1732780816499

1320-459: A sixteen-year-old Gustavus inherited the throne, being declared of age and able to reign himself at seventeen as of 16 December. He also inherited an ongoing succession of occasionally belligerent dynastic disputes with his Polish cousin, Sigismund III, who persisted in his effort to regain the Swedish throne. He also briefly assumed the title of tsar of Russia in the beginning of his reign. In

1430-503: A successor to the unfortunate Mayor Dyer. Beekman was Deputy Mayor of New York from 1681 to 1683, and from 1682 to 1683 was acting mayor. Col. Thomas Dongan , 2nd Earl of Limerick, was appointed Governor of the Duke of York's Province of New York in 1683. With instructions from the Duke, Gov. Dongan sailed from England to America, finally reaching New York City on August 25, 1683. In 1683, when Thomas Dongan became governor, Beekman

1540-520: A threat in the manifesto had never reached more than a quarter of the size of the Swedish fleet. Moreover, it was never maintained to challenge Sweden but to face the separatist Netherlands. So if ruling the Baltic Sea was a goal of Swedish strategy, the conquests in Germany were not a defensive war but an act of expansion. From Swedish Finland, Gustavus Adolphus advanced along the Baltic Sea coast and eventually to Augsburg and Munich and he even urged

1650-463: A time when Europe was engaged in religious wars and Protestants had begun to seek refuge from persecution. The persecution of Protestants by the Archbishop of Cologne was the cause of Gerardus' settling in the neighboring city of Mülheim , a refuge for Protestants. Rev. Beekman took a prominent part in the support of the principles of the new church and was chosen one of the delegates to visit

1760-553: Is a combination of the name of the man who founded the town, Wilhelmus Beekman, and his native home, Rhineland . Beekman was one of the original grantees of the area that became Beekmantown . The town of Beekman , Dutchess County, New York , is named for his son, Col. Henry Beekman, who owned a grant there in 1703, known as the Beekman Patent. In the Rhinebeck Village Historic District

1870-520: Is about Gustavus Adolphus. Wilhelmus Beekman Wilhelmus Hendricksen Beekman (April 28, 1623 – September 21, 1707) – also known as William Beekman and Willem Beekman (or Beeckman ) – was a Dutch immigrant to America who came to New Amsterdam (now New York City ) from the Netherlands in the same vessel (the ship Princess , on May 27, 1647) with Director-General and later Governor Peter Stuyvesant . Beekman soon became Treasurer of

1980-486: Is an exaggeration to credit him with a uniquely disciplined conscript army, or call his the first military state to fight a protracted war on the continent. He argues that he improved existing techniques and used them brilliantly. Richard Brzezinski says his legendary status was based on inaccurate myths created by later historians. Many of his innovations were developed by his senior staff. Gustavus Adolphus' politics also show progressive tendencies: for example, in 1631, in

2090-401: Is failing or great, subject to such rule in common, so that otherwise I would have had scant reason to desire such a rule, had I not found myself obliged to it through God's bidding and nature. Now it was of my acquaintance, that inasmuch as God had let me be born a prince, such as I then am born, then my good and my destruction were knotted into one with the common good; for every reason then, it

2200-489: Is fitting that, together, we should commemorate that event, the inauguration of an unbroken period of international friendship. We shall be reminded of these facts by the monument, cut by our famous sculptor, Carl Milles, in the black granite of Sweden. What memories are summoned forth at a moment like this. It is with pride we recall the memory of those almost legendary pioneers who braved the Atlantic in their little vessel,

2310-535: Is my protector!" However, it is more likely that he simply wore a padded cuirass rather than going into battle wearing no battle protection whatsoever. In 1627, near Dirschau in Prussia, a Polish soldier shot him in the muscles above his shoulders. He survived, but the doctors could not remove the bullet, so from that point on, he could not wear iron armor and two fingers of his right hand were paralyzed. The plate cuirass normally worn by important officers at that time

SECTION 20

#1732780816499

2420-632: Is now 126th Street, on the upper end of Manhattan Island, destined to later become Harlem . By 1658, Beekman was a prosperous family-man of thirty-five. He received by patent, 20 June 1655, a tract of land beyond the Kalck Hoek, or Collect. Difficulties arose about the right of way through this land for cattle pastured on the Commons. This cattle-path was probably the origin of Beekman Street. He held properties at Corlaer's Hook and in Harlem as well as

2530-410: Is now 34th Street, helping to form what became known as Stuyvesant's Bouwery Number 2 . In 1667, he sold to Domine Megapolenses the house at Chatham Square where he had once lived and in 1668, disposed of the entire Corlaer plantation to Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Cornelius Van Steenwyk , two of the town's wealthiest citizens. In 1670, he purchased from Thomas Hall property an extensive farm along

2640-534: Is widely commemorated by Protestants in Europe as the main defender of their cause during the Thirty Years' War, with multiple churches, foundations and other undertakings named after him. He became a symbol of Swedish pride, and his name is attached to city squares in major Swedish cities like Stockholm , Gothenburg and Helsingborg . Gustavus Adolphus Day is celebrated in Sweden and Finland each year on 6 November,

2750-603: The Confessio Augustana , the core confession of faith of the Lutheran Church , and let himself be praised as its saviour. Yet Gustavus Adolphus's own "manifesto of war" does not mention any religious motivations at all but speaks of political and economic reasons. Sweden would have to maintain its integrity in the face of several provocations and aggressions by the Habsburg Empire. The manifesto

2860-632: The Dutch West India Company , beginning a long life in public service that included being Mayor of New York City , Governor of Delaware (1653–1664), and Governor of Pennsylvania (1658–1663). He is the progenitor of the Beekman family in America. Wilhelmus (William, Willem) Beekman was born at Hasselt, Overijssel , Netherlands on April 28, 1623, to Hendrick Beekman and Mary Baudartius, who had married in 1621 at Zutphen ,

2970-508: The First State National Historical Park was authorized to potentially include Fort Christina; it now is part of the site. American author and essayist Washington Irving (1783–1859) refers to Fort Christina in the opening pages of his short story " Rip van Winkle ", describing the genealogy of his Dutch protagonist: In that same village, and in one of these very houses, (which, to tell the precise truth,

3080-511: The Realm of Sweden on the south side of the Delaware that encompassed much of the present-day U.S. state of Delaware , eventually including parts of present-day southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey on the north side of the river. The fort's earthworks were strengthened in 1640 by Governor Peter Hollander Ridder to help defend against the possibility of Dutch or Native American attacks. As additional colonists arrived from Sweden in

3190-644: The Rhine , making plans for the invasion of the rest of the Holy Roman Empire . In March 1632, Gustavus Adolphus invaded Bavaria , an ally of the Emperor. He forced the withdrawal of his Catholic opponents at the Battle of Rain , marking the high point of the campaign. In the summer of that year, he sought a political solution that would preserve the existing structure of states in Germany, while guaranteeing

3300-531: The Riksdag of the Estates in 1634. He is often regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in modern history, with use of an early form of combined arms . His most notable military victory was the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. With his resources, logistics, and support, Gustavus Adolphus was positioned to become a major European leader, but he was killed a year later at the Battle of Lützen . He

3410-571: The Swiss Confederacy to join him. This was no longer about Baltic interests but the imperial capital of Vienna and the alpine passes that were now in close reach of the Swedish army. Burkhardt points out that the Gothic legacy of the Swedes, coalesced as a political program. The Swedish king was also " Rex Gotorum " ( Latin : King of the Goths ), and the list of kings was traced back to

Fort Christina - Misplaced Pages Continue

3520-739: The Treaty of Bärwalde . After Swedish plundering in Brandenburg (1631) endangered the system of retrieving war contributions from occupied territories , "marauding and plundering" by Swedish soldiers was prohibited. Meanwhile, a Catholic army under Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly was laying waste to Saxony . Gustavus Adolphus met Tilly's army and won a decisive victory at the First Battle of Breitenfeld in September 1631. He then marched across Germany, establishing his winter quarters near

3630-612: The University of Tartu . Despite significant hardships for the common people, the period of Swedish rule over Estonia has been idealized in local folklore as the "good old Swedish times", which has been attributed to comparisons with the harder times that followed under the Russian rule. On 27 August 1617, his speech before his coronation included the following statement: I had carefully learned to understand, about that experience which I could have upon things of rule, how fortune

3740-525: The 300th anniversary of the Swedish colonization of the area, the state of Delaware created a park which contained the Rocks and the site of the former forts. The dedication was attended by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt , Crown Prince Gustav Adolf , Crown Princess Louise , and Prince Bertil . The Prince presented a gift from their homeland: a monument, topped by a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel , designed by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles . During

3850-658: The Americans on the same site during the Revolutionary period, and they established Fort Union here during the War of 1812 . Men involved in the defense of the fort included Caesar Augustus Rodney and James A. Bayard Sr. During the nineteenth century, the peninsula where the fort once stood became heavily industrialized, and included factories for the Jackson and Sharp Company and Mingus Iron Works. In 1938, to celebrate

3960-512: The Baltic Sea. The final inherited war, the war against Poland , ended in 1629 with the Truce of Altmark , which transferred the large province of Livonia to Sweden and freed the Swedish forces for the subsequent intervention in the Thirty Years' War in Germany, where Swedish forces had already established a bridgehead in 1628. The electorate of Brandenburg was especially torn apart by

4070-678: The Burgher Corps of New Amsterdam . In 1658, Beekman, while Vice Director of New Netherland , he added the title of Commissioner of Indian Affairs. His jurisdiction as Commissary at Esopus, now Kingston , and its dependencies extended from the Catskills, where that of Fort George terminated, to the Dans Kamer, a few miles above the Highlands, which was the northern limit of the jurisdiction of Fort Amsterdam . His home at Esopus

4180-661: The Caribbean area. In 1676, Beekman added to his land holdings purchasing the land of Thomas Hall, with a house facing the East River and a brew house on it. Around 1696, he purchased a large tract of land on the Hudson from local Indians, today known as the Rhinebeck Patent , and built on it a stone house and called the estate "Rhinebeck". It was still standing in 1877. The bricks of the chimney were imported from

4290-458: The Danish war was the most serious. During his reign, Sweden rose from the status of a Baltic Sea basin regional power to one of the great powers of Europe and a model of early modern era government. Gustavus Adolphus is known as the "father of modern warfare", or the first modern general. He taught a number of other military commanders, such as Lennart Torstensson , who would go on to expand

4400-519: The Duke of New Berg , the Elector of Brandenburg and James I to secure their support in behalf of the reformed religion. His mission executed with so much credit to himself, James I caused the coat of arms of the Beekman family to be remodelled, to "a rose on either side of a running brook". Rev. Beekman was one of the distinguished scholars who translated the King James Bible from

4510-779: The Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden. It was rather a struggle between the Dutch West India Company and the Swedish West India Company. The land remained as part of New Netherland until it became part of the English possessions when an English fleet invaded the area in 1664. Under English rule, the original Swedish fortifications around the Rocks fell into disrepair and eventually vanished entirely. New fortifications were built by

Fort Christina - Misplaced Pages Continue

4620-500: The Dutch. Beekman resided at Altona, a new name for the former Swedish Fort Christina, now the city of Wilmington. It was located on the Delaware Bay , called South River by the Dutch, and he resided there until 1663, and then moved to Esopus, now Kingston, New York , to assume the duties of his new appointment as Schout (Sheriff) and Commissary at that place. In 1664, Beekman was sheriff of New Amsterdam and in 1673, he

4730-554: The East River ran much farther inland than at present, and a large portion of the territory between Fulton Street and Corlear's Hook was salt meadow, scarcely fit for grazing. This land, about midway between Broadway and Chatham Street, was originally a large pond, denominated by the Dutch kolck or marsh, which they also designated as the Fresh Water, and a stream or rivulet from it running eastward, and crossing Chatham Street, between Pearl and Roosevelt Streets, and having there

4840-464: The East River, now Pearl Street and bounded by Nassau Street on the west. The southerly boundary of the farm was where Fulton Street now is and the northerly boundary was Beekman's Swamp, then called the Kripple Bush. It included a brew house, a mill, horse mill, and an orchard. To these he later added an adjoining piece of meadowland purchased at public auction. At this farm he took up residence in

4950-618: The Estates in 1634, making him officially called Gustavus Adolphus the Great ( Gustavus Adolphus Magnus ). Gustavus Adolphus was the main figure responsible for the success of Swedish arms during the Thirty Years' War and led his nation to great prestige. As a general , Gustavus Adolphus employed mobile artillery on the battlefield, as well as very aggressive tactics, where attack was stressed over defense, and mobility and cavalry initiative were emphasized. Among other innovations, he installed an early form of combined arms in his formations, where

5060-705: The GAW headquarters in Leipzig on the 400th birthday of Gustavus Adolphus, in 1994. The Columbia Encyclopedia sums up his record: The German Socialist Franz Mehring wrote a biography of Gustavus Adolphus with a Marxist perspective on the actions of the Swedish king during the Thirty Years' War. In it, he makes a case that the war was fought over economics and trade rather than religion. The Swedes discovered huge deposits of copper, which were used to build brass cannon. The cottage-industrial growth stimulated an armaments industry. In his book "Ofredsår" ("Years of Warfare"),

5170-568: The Gothic rulers to construct continuity. Prior to his embarkment to northern Germany, Gustavus urged the Swedish nobility to follow the example of conquests set by their Gothic ancestors. Had he lived longer, it would have been likely that Gustavus had reached out for the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire. The Swedish composer Franz Berwald composed the choral work Gustaf Adolph den stores seger och död vid Lützen ( Gustav Adolf

5280-474: The Great", or Gustav Adolf den Store in Swedish , the only Swedish monarch to be so honoured. As those Vasa princes who descended from deposed monarchs were excluded from the throne and Gustavus Adolphus's younger brother had died ten years before, his young daughter Christina became his successor, with Maria Eleonora and other ministers governing on her behalf. He left one other known child, his illegitimate son Gustav, Count of Vasaborg . Gustavus Adolphus

5390-492: The Great's Victory and Death near Lützen ) in 1845. He is also the protagonist of Max Bruch 's 1898 choral work Gustav Adolf . He is also a significant supporting character in the best-selling alternate history book series, 1632 , written by American author Eric Flint (first published in 2000). The song "The Lion from the North" from the album Carolus Rex , released in 2012 by Swedish power metal band Sabaton ,

5500-723: The Kalmar Nyckel, and who came to found the colony of New Sweden. That little band of gallant men and women have inscribed their names on the pages of history. Their deeds have been considered important enough for the President and Congress of the United States to extend an official invitation to Sweden to take part in the commemorative celebration of this historic event. We of Sweden are deeply moved by this mark of your esteem. It meets with our high appreciation and we offer you our most sincere thanks. In our common acclaim of

5610-634: The Kings subjects." In July a petit jury was sworn and twenty witnesses had been heard for the prosecution before the defendant confounded his accusers by demanding to know the authority of the commission which was trying him. After consultations among themselves the self-righteous patriots decided to send the defendant to England "to be proceeded against as his Majesty and Council shall direct." William Beekman and his fellow aldermen continued to administer municipal matters and Brockholls discreetly reappointed all of them in 1681 and 1682 without attempting to name

SECTION 50

#1732780816499

5720-659: The Netherlands. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Gerardus Beekman (1558–1625) was born in Cologne , received a University education, and studied theology at Frankendale in the Palatinate Region , during the years 1576-78. He became one of the most learned scholars of his time. He is said to have been able to "speak, think and dream" in five languages. Rev. Beekman, who married Agnes Stunning (1557–1614), at Cleves , died at Emmerich in 1625, and Stunning died at Mülheim , Germany , in 1614. Gerardus Beekman lived at

5830-409: The Netherlands. The place was named for the river Rhine in Europe, upon the banks of which Beekman was born. Following his emigration to America, Wilhelmus Beekman married Catalina de Boogh on September 5, 1649, a belle in the society of New Amsterdam and the daughter of the wealthy Hendricks de Boogh of Albany , New York. They had the following children: Beekman occupied the Beekman homestead on

5940-587: The Spanish tercios that were up to 50 ranks deep) used in other pike and shot armies of the day. In consequence, his forces could redeploy and reconfigure very rapidly, confounding his enemies. He created the modern Swedish Navy , which transported troops and supplies to the Continental battlefront. Carl von Clausewitz and Napoleon Bonaparte considered him one of the greatest generals of all time, an evaluation agreed with by George S. Patton and others. He

6050-405: The Swedes captured Fort Casimir under the orders of Governor Johan Risingh . Risingh, fearing reprisals, strengthened the defenses of Fort Christina by adding a wooden palisade around the earthworks. In 1655, the Dutch under Stuyvesant returned in force and laid siege to Fort Christina. The fort's surrender after ten days ended the official Swedish colonial presence in North America, though most of

6160-401: The Swedish historian and author Peter Englund argues that there was probably no single all-important reason for the king's decision to go to war. Instead, it was likely a combination of religious, security, as well as economic considerations. This view is supported by German historian Johannes Burkhardt, who writes that Gustavus entered the 30 Years War exactly 100 years after the publication of

6270-749: The Synod he had participated not only in the formulation of the doctrines of the Dutch Reformed Church , but also in prescribing its forms of worship. Furthermore, he was one of the handful of scholars selected to make the authorized translation of the Bible into Dutch. In 1632, when the Old Testament translation was completed after many years of effort, it was immediately acclaimed on all sides and has been employed ever since. Wilhelmus Beekman departed from Amsterdam at Christmas, 1646, bound for

6380-534: The Thirty Years' War gave rise to the nickname "the Lion from the North". Historian Ronald S. Love wrote that in 1560–1660 there were "a few innovators, notably Maurice of Nassau and Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, whom many scholars credit with revolutionary developments in warfare and with having laid the foundations of military practice for the next two centuries." Scholars consider him an extremely able military commander. His integration of infantry, cavalry, logistics, and particularly his use of artillery, earned him

6490-420: The aid of other churches and commemorates Gustavus' legacy. It is responsible for taking care of the Diaspora work of the EKD and has separate branches internationally. The organization in Austria is called the Gustav-Adolf-Verein. The project of forming such a society was first broached in connection with the bicentennial celebration of the Battle of Lützen on 6 November 1832. A proposal to collect funds for

6600-434: The anti-Imperial side, which at the time was losing to the Holy Roman Empire and its Catholic allies; the Swedish forces would quickly reverse that situation. Gustavus Adolphus was married to Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg , the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg , and chose the Prussian city of Elbing as the base for his operations in Germany. He died in the Battle of Lützen in 1632. His involvement in

6710-474: The artillery, as his heavy cavalry did when turning captured artillery on the opposing Catholic tercios at First Breitenfeld . Pikemen could shoot—if not as accurately as those designated musketeers—so a valuable firearm could be kept in the firing line. His infantrymen and gunners were taught to ride, if needed. Napoleon thought highly of the achievement and copied the tactics. However, recent historians have challenged his reputation. B. H. Liddell Hart says it

SECTION 60

#1732780816499

6820-424: The assassin was named as Prince Francis Albert of Saxe-Lauenburg  [ de ] , who was next to the king on the occasion and was thought to be acting on behalf of the enemy. When King Charles XII of Sweden was shown purported evidence in 1707 he dismissed the theory out of doubt that "any prince could be so ungrateful" . In February 1633, the Riksdag of the Estates gave him the title "Gustavus Adolphus

6930-413: The boundaries and power of the Swedish Empire after Gustavus Adolphus's death. Spoils meant he became a successful bookraider in Europe, targeting Jesuit library collections. His contributions to Sweden's rise in power included reformation of the administrative structure. For example, he began Parish Registration of the population, so that the central government could more efficiently tax and conscript

7040-421: The cavalry could attack from the safety of an infantry line reinforced by cannon, and retire again within to regroup after their foray. Inspired by the reform of Maurice of Nassau , he adopted much shallower infantry formations than were common in the pike and shot armies of the era, with formations typically fighting in 5 or 6 ranks, occasionally supported at some distance by another such formation—the gaps being

7150-448: The ceremony, the Prince spoke of the site's significance to both countries: The monument to be unveiled today is a gift from the people of Sweden to the people of the United States. The funds were raised through public subscription, wherein several hundred thousands of our citizens took part. I believe that amongst these subscribers, many had across the Atlantic brothers and sisters, parents and children. In contributing, they must have felt

7260-400: The colonists remained and were allowed to continue their linguistic and religious practices by the Dutch. Stuyvesant renamed Fort Christina as Fort Altena. It is noteworthy to the modern reader that the struggle for Fort Christina and Fort Casimir involved hundreds of mercenaries and chartered warships, and was run personally by Stuyvesant, but was not seen at the time as in any way a war between

7370-406: The colony of New Sweden on the Delaware River from 1658 to 1663." In May 2013, for the 375th anniversary of the Swedish landing, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, along with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden , reenacted the landing of the Kalmar Nyckel at Fort Christina Park on a replica of the original ship. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. In 2014,

7480-400: The conquered territory of Estonia he forced the local nobility into granting more individual rights to the commoners. He also encouraged education, opening a school in Tallinn in 1631, today known as Gustav Adolf Grammar School ( Estonian : Gustav Adolfi Gümnaasium ). On 30 June 1632, Gustavus Adolphus signed the decree for the foundation of Academia Dorpatensis in Estonia, today known as

7590-423: The creation of an Assembly of eighteen members to be elected by the freeholders. In preparation for the election of an Assembly William Beekman and the aldermen ordered a census to be completed "with all possible speed". As acting Mayor since the elimination of Dyer more than two years before, Beekman occupied a post which gave him great prestige in the eyes of the inhabitants. On November 9, 1683, Dongan received

7700-424: The day the king died at Lützen. One of the traditions on this day is the Gustavus Adolphus pastry . In Finland, the day is also celebrated as "Swedish heritage day". Gustavus Adolphus College , a Lutheran college in St. Peter, Minnesota , is also named for him. The Gustav-Adolf-Werk (GAW) of the Evangelical Church in Germany , founded on the bicentennial celebration of the Battle of Lützen , has as its object

7810-434: The departing governor neglected to make specific provision for the renewal of the expiring authority for the collection of customs duties. Actually the authority expired in November 1680, but no attention was called to the matter for many months. Then, in May 1681, opportunity knocked for Beekman. Governor Andros had departed; the lieutenant-governor was temporarily absent from the province and Mayor Dyer, collector of customs,

7920-553: The development into greatness of your country, the country of their adoption. We are proud to think that their virtue and valor were brought down to their descendants and thus helped in the formation of those traits which we admire in the American people of the present day. President Roosevelt, in accepting the monument, responded that, "I am fortunate in having personal association with the colony of Sweden, for one of my ancestors, William Beekman , served as vice director or governor of

8030-581: The early 19th century. Former US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt claimed to be descended from him. William Beekman helped to establish a measure of self-government for the Dutch hamlet which was to become a great city. He was a perennial political leader under both English and Dutch rule and played an instrumental role in securing a municipal charter from the English authorities for New York City. His most important service to posterity, however,

8140-484: The estate purchased from Thomas Hall, in a home about where Pearl and Frankfort Streets are today, until his death on September 21, 1707, at the age of eighty-five years. Colonel Henry Beekman , his grandson through his eldest son Henry Beekman, attained considerable prominence and had a daughter, Cornelia, who married Gilbert Livingston , son of Robert Livingston , first Lord of Livingston Manor ; and another daughter, Margaret, married Robert Livingston (1718-1775) ,

8250-476: The first was called William Street , after Beekman's first, or Christian, name. Beekman Tower , the 76-story skyscraper designed by architect Frank Gehry and later renamed 8 Spruce Street , first utilized the Beekman name due to its proximity to Beekman Street. Rhinebeck , Dutchess County , New York and Beekmantown , a town in Clinton County , New York are named for him. The name Rhinebeck

8360-484: The goods which he had been holding for non-payment of customs. The members of the mayor's court then intimated to Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brockholls and his council that the collector should be tried for usurping the power of government. The lieutenant governor in council committed Dyer to trial, and a grand jury was sworn. Collector (Mayor) Dyer was formally indicted for having "trayterously maliciously and advisedly used and exercised Regall power and authority over

8470-600: The government of the City of New York under a mayor, deputy mayor, and aldermen, all of whom he himself appointed. Beekman became an alderman in 1678 and was reappointed in 1679 and in 1680. In the latter year he advanced to the head of the list of aldermen and to the title of deputy mayor. The mayor at that time was Captain William Dyer, who was also Collector of Customs and a member of Gov. Andros' Council. Hurried and preoccupied with other matters associated with his recall,

8580-484: The land on which his house stood, the north side of the present site of Chatham Square . He was also a brewer, as were many of the town's leading citizens, and the proprietor of a flour mill. During the period of 1658–1671, Beekman conducted several significant real estate transactions of lands he had amassed since his arrival in New Amsterdam. In 1666, he sold to Peter Stuyvesant some forty-six acres near what

8690-564: The links, which connect them and all of us with your great country, where so many of the citizens are either of Swedish birth or purely or partly of Swedish descent. Near this spot, the Fort Christina State Park, was the first permanent settlement in the Delaware Valley. The Swedes, who landed here 300 years ago, were few in number and of poor means. Yet thus began the relations between our two Nations. Indeed, it

8800-506: The original manuscripts into English, for James I , and for his services received special honors from the King. His maternal grandfather, theologian Willem Baudartius , preacher in the town of Zutphen , was one of Dutch Calvinism's most zealously orthodox protagonists. As his participation in the Synod of Dort suggests, Baudartius enjoyed considerable stature as an intellectual leader. At

8910-538: The passengers was Director-General Pieter Stuyvesant . Traveling by ship in the 1600s was not without its dangers; the Princess Amelia sank on its return voyage to Holland in September 1647. Only 21 of the 107 passengers survived. From the outset, he was identified with affairs of state and the government of the new city. A general meeting of the Director-General and Council of New Netherland

9020-594: The people. He is also widely commemorated by Protestants in Europe as the main defender of their cause during the Thirty Years' War, with multiple churches, foundations and other undertakings named after him, including the Gustav-Adolf-Werk . Gustavus Adolphus was born in Stockholm on 9 December 1594, eldest son of Duke Charles of the House of Vasa and his second wife, Christina of Holstein-Gottorp . At

9130-411: The property and was designated Beekman Street by the public in his honor. As New York City grew new streets were opened where formerly the farmers had only the easement or right of way. This was the origin of Beekman Street, which was laid out and graded in 1752, although since 1656 the farmers had the right to drive their cattle to the commons through it. A second thoroughfare, running at a right angle to

9240-461: The provinces of the artillery and cavalry as noted above. His artillery were themselves different—in addition to the usual complements of heavy cannon, he introduced light mobile guns for the first time into the Renaissance battlefield. These were grouped in batteries supporting his more linearly deployed formations, replacing the cumbersome and unmaneuverable traditional deep squares (such as

9350-543: The security of its Protestants. But achieving these objectives depended on his continued success on the battlefield. Some other military actions in the Thirty Years' War with Gustavus at the head were: the victorious battles of Frankfurt an der Oder and Werben , the botched Siege of Nuremberg , the Battle of Fürth , and the unfavourable Battle of the Alte Veste . Gustavus Adolphus is reported to have entered battle without wearing any armor, proclaiming, "The Lord God

9460-589: The settlement which the Dutch West India Company had established in the year of his birth on Manhattan Island. The voyage from the Netherlands to the New World was long and arduous, Stuyvesant going by way of Curaçao in the Dutch West Indies on account of political considerations. In May 1647, Wilhelmus arrived in Nieuw Amsterdam aboard the Dutch merchant ship Princess Amelia . among

9570-402: The spring of 1671, when he was relieved of his duties as schout at Esopus . According to Valentine's History of New York, Beekman's Swamp was sold in 1734 to Jacobus Roosevelt for two hundred pounds by the corporation. He used beer to pay his taxes in 1672 and was referred to publicly as "brewer". Later it became clear that William was also a shipowner who engaged in trade and privateering in

9680-687: The time, his cousin Sigismund was both King of Sweden and Poland. The Protestant Duke Charles forced the Catholic Sigismund to abandon the throne of Sweden in 1599, part of the preliminary religious strife before the Thirty Years' War , and reigned as regent before taking the throne as Charles IX of Sweden in 1604. Crown Prince Gustav Adolph had Gagnef-Floda in Dalecarlia as a duchy from 1610. Upon his father's death in October 1611,

9790-470: The title of the "Father of Modern Warfare". Future commanders who studied and admired Gustavus Adolphus include Napoleon I of France and Carl von Clausewitz . His advancements in warfare helped make Sweden the dominant Baltic power for the next hundred years ( see Swedish Empire ). He is also the only Swedish monarch to be styled " the Great ". This decision was made by the Swedish Riksdag of

9900-455: The town. He served as a schepen until 1658. On July 30, 1658, he received the appointment of Vice-Director or Governor of the Colony of Swedes (Delaware), through the influence of the Dutch West India Company . The capital, then known as New Amstel , is today New Castle. It was a challenging assignment as the population was largely Swedish and Finnish immigrants only recently conquered by

10010-673: The victorious for Sweden Storming of Kristianopel and the unsuccessful Battle of Vittsjö , — was concluded in 1613 with a peace that did not cost Sweden any territory except for Älvsborg Castle, which Sweden had to pay to get back , but it was forced to pay a heavy indemnity to Denmark–Norway ( Treaty of Knäred ). During this war, Gustavus Adolphus let his soldiers plunder towns and villages, and as he met little resistance from Danish forces in Scania , they pillaged and devastated twenty-four Scanian parishes. His memory in Scania has been negative because of that fear. The largest destroyed settlement

10120-420: The years following the landing, homes and farms began to be built outside of the confines of the fort. The fort was rebuilt entirely in 1647. The colony of New Sweden remained in constant friction with the Dutch. In 1651, the Dutch under Peter Stuyvesant established Fort Casimir at present-day New Castle , only 7 mi (12 km) south of Fort Christina, in order to menace the Swedish settlement. In 1654,

10230-484: Was King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632, and is credited with the rise of Sweden as a great European power ( Swedish : Stormaktstiden ). During his reign, Sweden became one of the primary military forces in Europe during the Thirty Years' War , helping to determine the political and religious balance of power in Europe. He was formally and posthumously given the name Gustavus Adolphus the Great (Swedish: Gustav Adolf den store ; Latin : Gustavus Adolphus Magnus ) by

10340-471: Was a lieutenant in the militia. In 1674, Beekman was elected Burgomaster and retained his office when the English gained control of the city following the second Anglo-Dutch War . In March 1672, the third Anglo-Dutch War began and with the arrival of the Dutch fleet in July 1673, the English surrendered. Beekman was named a Schepen once again. By mid-August, the governmental pattern of pre-English years

10450-399: Was also renowned for his constancy of purpose and the equality of his troops—no one part of his armies was considered better or received preferred treatment, as was common in other armies where the cavalry were the elite, followed by the artillery, and both disdained the lowly infantry. In Gustavus Adolphus's' army the units were extensively cross-trained. Both cavalry and infantry could service

10560-479: Was assisted in his efforts by Count Axel Oxenstierna , the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden , who also acted as regent after his death. Coming to the throne at the age of 16, Gustavus Adolphus inherited three wars from his father Charles IX of Sweden : border conflicts with Russia and Denmark–Norway , and a dynastic struggle with his first cousin, King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland . Of these,

10670-479: Was completed in May, 1653, and extended along the present Wall Street , skirting De Heere Gracht, an inlet of the bay, where Broad Street now is. In the same year, Wilhelmus Beekman was appointed one of the five Schepens of New Amsterdam . Beekman was a member of The Nine Men , 1652; Schepen in 1653, 1654, 1656 and 1657 (President), 1673; Burgomaster in 1674. Between 1652 and 1658, he served as Lieutenant of

10780-542: Was fully established. However, by February 1674, the province was returned to the English in the Treaty of Westminster . When Andros, the Governor, arrived in 1674, Beekman was one of a committee of three to go on board The Diamond , to welcome the Governor, and ask for certain favors for the Dutch in New York. Before the end of 1678, William was back in office once more. Governor Edmund Andros had by then reorganized

10890-469: Was held with the Burgomasters and Schepens (magistrates) on 13 March, 1653, at which it was decreed that breastworks or a wall should be built to protect the city and that the cost should be levied against the estates. Peter Wolfersen Van Couwenhoven and Wilhelmus Beekman were chosen Commissioners and authorized to offer proposals, invite bids, and make the contract for the construction of the work. It

11000-492: Was laid low by illness. With no authority to continue the expired taxes without express orders from the Duke of York , Mayor Dyer, who was also tax collector, continued to levy customs taxes. Dyer was summoned before the very court of which he was normally the presiding officer, that of the mayor and aldermen of the City of New York. With Deputy Mayor William Beekman presiding in his place, the court promptly ordered Dyer to surrender

11110-473: Was mayor of New York, and was one of those appointed to survey Fort James . Rev. John Gordon became chaplain of the English soldiers in New York, and Mayor William Beekman, Stephanus Van Cortlandt , Lucas Santen, Mark Talbot, and Gabriel Minvielle were appointed to survey Fort James , while Captain Thomas Young was made pilot of the port. The instructions given Gov. Dongan contained a provision for

11220-682: Was now my promise that I should take great pains about their well-being and good governance and management, and thereabout bear close concern. Gustavus Adolphus inherited three wars from his father when he ascended the throne: against Denmark–Norway , which had attacked Sweden earlier in 1611; against Russia, due to Sweden having tried to take advantage of the Russian Time of Troubles ; and against Poland-Lithuania , due to King Charles's having deposed King Sigismund III, his nephew, as King of Sweden. The war against Denmark–Norway ( Kalmar War ), during which Gustavus fought in minor military actions, —

11330-650: Was one of the Elders who sought and received an official charter from the royal authorities for the Reformed Dutch Church. Beekman brought wealth from the Old World and invested it wisely in New Amsterdam . In 1652, he purchased a farm known as Corlaer's Hook from Jacob Corlaer where Beekman lived with his bride and was fully launched into the delightful society of the Dutch city. At the time,

11440-481: Was replaced by a buff coat made of moose hide, which would have serious consequences later. On 6 November 1632, Gustavus Adolphus encountered the Imperial Army under Albrecht von Wallenstein at Lützen , in what would prove to be one of the most significant battles of the Thirty Years' War. Gustavus Adolphus was killed when, at a crucial point in the battle, he became separated from his troops while leading

11550-650: Was sadly time-worn and weather-beaten), there lived many years since, while the country was yet a province of Great Britain, a simple good-natured fellow named Rip Van Winkle. He was a descendant of the Van Winkles who figured so gallantly in the chivalrous days of Peter Stuyvesant and accompanied him to the siege of Fort Christina. Notes Sources Additional reading Gustavus Adolphus Gustavus Adolphus (9 December [ N.S 19 December] 1594 – 6 November [ N.S 16 November] 1632), also known in English as Gustav II Adolf or Gustav II Adolph ,

11660-433: Was spotted between the two lines, Gustavus Adolphus himself not on it and nowhere to be seen. His disappearance stopped the initiative of the hitherto successful Swedish right wing, while a search was conducted. His partly stripped body was found an hour or two later, and evacuated from the field in a Swedish artillery wagon. As late as the 19th century several stories were retold about Gustav Adolphus's death. In most of them

11770-564: Was the Town Væ , which two years later was replaced by Danish–Norwegian King Christian IV as the nearby Christiansted (after the Swedification process, spelled Kristianstad), the last Scanian town to be founded by a Danish king. The war against Russia ( Ingrian War ) marked Gustavus' involvement in the successful Siege of Gdov and the failed Siege of Pskov and ended in 1617 with the Treaty of Stolbovo , which excluded Russia from

11880-493: Was the scene of many memorable gatherings of distinguished men. He entertained there Governors Cartwright, Nichols, and Lovelace. From 1648 to 1652, Beekman was a Selectman, and on February 2, 1653, he was appointed one of the five original schepens of New Amsterdam . With the First Anglo-Dutch War under way, on March 14, 1653, Beekman was appointed to join council member Montagne to supervise work fortifying

11990-401: Was to fight vigorously for more representative governmental institutions. Wilhelmus Beekman's name is perpetuated in the names of William Street and Beekman Street, New York City , which latter became legally a street in 1734. The Beekman homestead in New Amsterdam was built by Wilhelmus Beekman in 1670 near the present corner of Pearl and Beekman Streets. A street was laid out through

12100-477: Was written by scholar Johann Adler Salvius in a style common of the time that promotes a "just war". Burkhardt argues that traditional Swedish historiography constructed a defensive interest in security out of that by taking the manifesto's text for granted. But to defend Stockholm, the occupation of the German Baltic territories would have been an extreme advance and the imperial Baltic Sea fleet mentioned as

#498501