JOHN MAURICE (JOHAN MAURITS), COUNT OF NASSAU SIEGEN (1604–1679)

After he served in the army of the stadtholders Maurice (1567–1625) and Frederick Henry, in 1636 John Maurice became governor of Brazil—thus his epithet “the Brazilian”—until the colony was lost after Portugal regained inde pendence in 1640. His attempts to maintain this colony were in vain, because he lacked support. In 1647, the Elector of Brandenburg ap pointed him as governor of Mark, Cleves, and later also Minden. From 1665, he served the Republic again in the wars against Munster and France. The Mauritshouse in The Hague and channels and gardens in Cleves recall his interest in art and sciences.