Arent Magnin (born 13 January 1825 – 19 September 1888) was a Dutch politician, who made a career in the administration on the

Dutch Gold Coast The Dutch Gold Coast or Dutch Guinea, officially Dutch possessions on the Coast of Guinea (Dutch: ''Nederlandse Bezittingen ter Kuste van Guinea'') was a portion of contemporary Ghana that was gradually colonized by the Dutch, beginning in 1612. ...

and who later served as mayor in several Dutch municipalities.

Biography

Arent Magnin was born in

Meppel Meppel (; Drents: ''Möppelt'') is a city and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. It constitutes the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe. Meppel is the smallest municipality in Drenthe, with a total area of about 57 km² (22 sq ...

to Jean Samuel Magnin and Grietien Wildeboer. He was appointed assistant on the Gold Coast in 1857, serving as commandant of

Fort Patience Fort Patience (Dutch: ''Fort Lijdzaamheid'', or, in 17th-century spelling, ''Fort Leydsaemheyt'') is a Dutch-built fort located in the township of Apam, in the Central Region of Ghana. Originally built in 1697, it served as a defensive fortificati ...

Apam Apam is a coastal town and capital of Gomoa West District in the Central Region of Ghana, located approximately 45 kilometers east of the Central Region capital, Cape Coast. Apam is the site of Fort Lijdzaamheid or Fort Patience, a Dutch-built f ...

from 1858 onwards. He was also appointed replacement judge at the Court of Justice in Elmina. During the European leave of governor

Cornelis Nagtglas Cornelis Johannes Marius Nagtglas (born 16 May 1814 – 19 January 1897) was a Dutch politician and civil servant, who made a career in the administration on the Dutch Gold Coast. After originally beginning his career at the advanced age of 3 ...

, Magnin temporarily became second in command of the colony, serving as bookkeeper, secretary and public prosecutor under governor ad interim Cornelis Meeuwsen. Upon Nagtglas' return, he was installed adjutant to the governor. Magnin was granted

European European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...

leave in September 1863. When Magnin returned to the Gold Coast in September 1864, he was promoted to the rank of resident, and again shortly became second in command until governor

Henri Alexander Elias Henri Alexander Elias (born 21 March 1829 – 26 February 1903) was a Dutch colonial administrator, who served as governor of the Dutch Gold Coast. Biography Henri Alexander Elias was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies to Burchard Joan Eli ...

returned from European leave in late 1864. After governor Elias retired to Europe for good a few months later, Magnin was installed governor ad interim. Magnin served from 4 May 1865 until 19 February 1866, when the newly appointed governor

Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga Willem Hendrik Johan van Idsinga (born 25 June 1822 – 16 November 1896) was a Dutch politician and colonial official, who served as Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast between 1865 and 1867 and as Governor of Surinam between 29 June 1867 and ...

arrived on the Gold Coast. Magnin was then honourably discharged, retiring from service on the Gold Coast and returning to Europe. In the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, Magnin was appointed mayor of

Hoogwoud Hoogwoud (; West Frisian: ''Hougwoud'') is a small city in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Opmeer, and lies about northeast of Heerhugowaard. History Hoogwoud was first mentioned in 1289 as Officii de ...

in 1866, of

Beverwijk Beverwijk () is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The town is located about northwest of Amsterdam in the Randstad metropolitan area, north of the North Sea Canal very close to the North Sea coast. A ...

and Wijk aan Zee en Duin in 1867 and of

Veendam Veendam () is a town and municipality with a population of 27,752 in the province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands. Veendam was established in 1648 as a peat colony by Adriaan Geerts Wildervanck. A Holland America Line cruise ship ...

in 1880. He was still mayor of the latter place when he died in 1888.

Personal life

Magnin married Margaretha Moerman with whom he had six children.

Decorations

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magnin, Arent 1825 births 1888 deaths Colonial governors of the Dutch Gold Coast Mayors in North Holland People from Beverwijk Mayors in Groningen (province) People from Veendam Politicians from Meppel