In late August 1664, the Burgomasters and Schepens (mayors and aldermen) of New Amsterdam - currently Lower Manhattan - were faced with “four King’s frigates from England, sent hither by his Majesty and his brother, the Duke of York, with commission to reduce not only this place, but also the whole N Netherland under his Majesty’s authority…”. The Royal Navy’s presence wasn’t a surprise. The Dutch had expected English aggression for 11 years, but it was still unpleasant. A wall was erected on what’s now Wall Street and everybody got ready for bloodshed. For their part, merchants in the successful trading port of New Amsterdam were long unhappy with the low investment and scant management from the West India Company, but what happened next was nothing short of astonishing.
© 2024 John Oliver
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