Groen Van Prinsterer, Guillaume
Groen Van Prinsterer, Guillaume
Born Aug. 21, 1801, in Voorburg; died May 19, 1876, in The Hague. Dutch political figure and historian.
Groen served as secretary to King Wilhelm I from 1827 to 1833 and later directed the state archives in The Hague. He published numerous archival materials. In the 1830’s he became a leader of an antiliberal movement that was tinged with a dogmatic, conservative Calvinism; this point of view informed Groen’s historical writings, which influenced modern reactionary Dutch historiography. From 1849 to 1857 and from 1862 to 1866 he was a member of the Second Chamber of the States General, where he was the chief opponent of the liberal leader, J. R. Thorbecke. Groen prepared the way for the foundation of the Protestant Anti-Revolutionary Party, which was formed in 1878.
WORKS
Handboek der geschiedenis van het vaterland, vols. 1–2. Leiden, 1841–46.Ongeloofen revolutie. Leiden, 1847.