Stuyvesant, Peter (c. 1592–1672)

Dutch colonial leader in America. Appointed director general of New Netherland 1646, he arrived there in 1647. He reorganized the administration of the colony and established a permanent boundary with Connecticut by the Treaty of Hartford 1650. Forced to surrender the colony to the British 1664, Stuyvesant remained there for the rest of his life.

Born in Holland, Stuyvesant first worked as an official of the Dutch West India Company. He was governor of Curacao 1643.