Van Curler, Arent
Van Curler or Van Corlaer, Arent
(är`ənt văn kûr`lər, vän kôr`lär), 1619–67, Dutch colonist in New Netherland. He came (1637) to the colony to assist in the management of Rensselaerswyck, the estate of his cousin Kiliaen Van RensselaerVan Rensselaer, Kiliaen, c.1580–1644, Dutch merchant and patroon, b. Amsterdam. He was a wealthy diamond and pearl merchant and helped found (1621) the Dutch West India Company, later becoming one of its directors.
..... Click the link for more information. , and from 1642 to 1644 was administrator. He made friends of the Native Americans and on several occasions successfully mediated between them and the colonists. Purchasing a tract of land on the Mohawk River, Van Curler founded (1662) Schenectady there. He was drowned in Lake Champlain on his way to Canada.