Van Diemen, Anthony (1593-1645), was governor general of the Netherlands Indies (now Indonesia) from 1636 to 1645. He greatly extended Dutch interests by capturing Melaka from the Portuguese. Today, he is best remembered as the man who sent the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman on his voyage around Australia in 1642. Tasman named an island Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) in his honor.
Van Diemen was born in Culemborg in the Netherlands. His father was mayor of Culemborg. Van Diemen sailed to the Indies in 1618. He rose rapidly in the colonial administration, and in 1627 he became director general, the second highest position in the Indies. He returned to the Netherlands in 1631. In 1632, Van Diemen was sent again to the Indies. He was appointed governor general in 1636, and held the post until he died nine years later.
