Sentence examples for pensionary from inspiring English sources

Pensionary, Dutch Pensionaris, powerful political office in the Dutch Republic (United Provinces; 1579 1795).

With the fall of Oldenbarnevelt in 1618, the office, renamed councillor pensionary (raadpensionaris) in 1619, declined as that of the stadtholder increased in power.

When Napoleon imposed a change of government on the republic (1805) and it became the Batavian Commonwealth, he appointed Schimmelpenninck head of government as councillor pensionary.

Becoming a magistrate, he was successively pensionary of Middelburg and Dordrecht and, from 1636 to 1651, grand pensionary of Holland.

The office of councillor pensionary (including the less important equivalent in Zeeland) was abolished with the fall of the republic in 1795.

A scion of an urban patrician family, Heinsius practiced law in Delft until 1679, when he became pensionary (chief executive) of the city.

Johan de Witt, a 17th-century grand pensionary of Holland, and his brother Cornelis were natives of the town.

Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck, (born Oct. 31, 1761, Deventer, Neth. died Feb. 15, 1825, Amsterdam) Dutch statesman and leader of the Patriot Party who as councillor pensionary (raadpensionaris) ruled the Batavian Commonwealth (now the Netherlands) under Napoleon I from 1805 to 1806 and instituted sweeping fiscal and educational reforms.

Leadership of the Dutch state for the next 45 years came from the councillor pensionaries of Holland, who were often able men but either unwilling or unable to do more than conduct current business without attempting the delicate and explosive task of restructuring the government.

The pensionaries of the provinces of Holland and Zeeland were particularly influential and, by the end of the 16th century, virtually dominated certain city governments.

Pensionaries, originally the secretaries and legal advisers of the town corporations, were first appointed in the 15th century.