Hendrik Swellengrebel

Hendrik Swellengrebel (Cape Town, 20 September 1700 – Utrecht, 26 December 1760) was the first and only Dutch East India Company governor of the Dutch Cape Colony who was born in the Cape.^[1]

Hendrik Swellengrebel
8th Governor of the Dutch Cape Colony
In office 14 April 1739 – 27 February 1751
Preceded by	Daniël van den Henghel (acting)
Succeeded by	Ryk Tulbagh
Personal details
Born	20 September 1700 Cape Town
Died	26 December 1760(1760-12-26) (aged 60) Utrecht, Netherlands
Spouse(s)	Helena Wilhelmina ten Damme Helena van Ruyven

Life

Swellengrebel was governor from 14 April 1739 to 27 February 1751. In his time, new districts were added to the colony. The town of Swellendam in the Western Cape is named after him and his wife Helena Wilhelmina ten Damme.^[2]

In 1751 he was succeeded as governor by Ryk Tulbagh. Upon return to the Netherlands, he bought the land now known as the Kaapse Bossen (Cape Forests) in Utrecht.