Van der Donck, Adrien (1620–1655)

Dutch colonist in America and lawyer. In 1650, he wrote the ‘Remonstrance’, in which he listed the grievances of the Dutch colonists against their leaders in Holland. When he took it to The Hague, he was detained for almost three years; he returned to New Netherland in 1653, but was restricted to providing only legal advice. His action led to the organization of city government in New Amsterdam.

Van der Donck was born in Breda, Netherlands. He went to America in 1641 to work as an officer of justice; when he fell out with the estate's manager, he established a new settlement at present-day Yonkers, New York.