Stuyvesant, Petrus

Stuyvesant, Petrus

(?–1672) colonial governor; born in Friesland, Netherlands. He became governor of New Netherland in 1647. He worked to save the colony from the disastrous policies of his predecessor, Willem Kieft. He was frustrated by the people of New Amsterdam who won the right of independent municipal government (1653) and by the capture of New Netherland by English forces (1664).