Hero Schomerus

Hero Schomerus
Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast
In office
1852–1856
Preceded by Anthony van der Eb
Succeeded by Petrus Jacobus Runckel
Personal details
Born August 24, 1816
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died September 25, 1856 (aged 40)
Elmina, Dutch Gold Coast
Spouse(s) Ellen Frij

Hero Schomerus (24 August 1816 – 25 September 1856) was a Dutch colonial government official, who made a career in the administration on the Dutch Gold Coast.

Biography

Hero Schomerus was probably born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Johann Gerhard Schomerus and Johanna van Laar. Both his parents came from Germany. He was installed as an assistant in the government of the Gold Coast by royal decree of 8 August 1845. He was promoted several times before he become governor ad interim of the Gold Coast in 1852, after governor Anthony van der Eb had died.[1]

Apart from being a colonial official, Schomerus also acted as an agent for the Rotterdam-based firm H. van Rijckevorsel & Co.[1] During his time in office, the redoubt built on the Coebergh ("Cow Hill") in Elmina in the 1820s was reconstructed and reinforced. The new fort was completed in 1843 and later named Fort Schomerus.[2]

Schomerus died in office, on 25 September 1856.[1]

Personal life

Hero Schomerus married Ellen Frij, a "princess of Ashanti". They had three sons together.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Michel Doortmont. "Schomerus, Hero". GoldCoastDataBase. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. Van Dantzig 1999, p. 76.

Sources