HEINSIUS, Anthonie

(1641–1720)

Pensionary of his native city Delft from 1679, and grand pensionary of Holland from 1689. As a diplomat, Heinsius was the confidant of Stadtholder William III of Orange(who became king of England in 1689). After the death of William in 1702, Heinsius was given the unrewarding task of con ducting the foreign policy of the Dutch Republic during the War of the Spanish Succession. Although the Peace of Utrecht in 1713 put an end to the expansionist ambitions of French King Louis XIV, who died in 1714, the Republic was compelled to realize that its place in the European scene had dwindled and that its financial situation had seriously deteriorated. Heinsius’ political correspondence was pub lished by the Instituut voor Nederlandse Geschiedenis (Institute of Netherlands History) in The Hague (De briefwisseling van Anthonie Heinsius, 1702–1720, 19 vols., 1976–2001).