Simon van der Stel

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Simon van der Stel October 14, 1639 – June 24, 1712, was the first Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. He was the son of Adriaan van der Stel, an official of the Dutch East India Company who was commander at Mauritius, and Maria Lievens, partly of Malay origin. He married Johanna Jacoba Six (1645-1700).

He became Commander at the Cape in 1679. The following year the town of Stellenbosch was founded, and named after him. In 1691 he was promoted to Governor of the Cape. He retired in 1699 and was succeeded by his son Willem Adriaan van der Stel. Upon his retirement he developed his estate at Constantia, where he died in 1712. Simons Town is also named after him.