Peter Stuyvesant

Stuyvesant, Peter (c.1610–72), Dutch director-general (1647–64) of New Netherland, Holland's North American colony, which included the city of New Amsterdam, later renamed New York. Autocratic and unpopular, he lost Dutch territory to Connecticut in 1650, conquered and annexed New Sweden in 1655, and finally surrendered New Netherland to England in 1664, after his citizens failed to support him against a surprise English attack. He retired to his farm, “the Bouwerie,” now New York's Bowery.