Jan de Quay

Jan Eduard de Quay (August 26, 1901 – July 4, 1985) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party (KVP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 19, 1959 until July 24, 1963.

He previously served as Minister of War from April 4, 1945 until June 24, 1945 in the Cabinet Gerbrandy III. He became Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant serving from November 1, 1946 until May 19, 1959. After the Dutch general election of 1959, de Quay became Prime Minister of the Netherlands, leading the Cabinet De Quay. And as acting Minister of Defence from August 1, 1959 until September 4, 1959 following the resignation of Sidney J. van den Bergh.

After his premiership, De Quay remained in active politics and became a Member of the Senate from June 25, 1963 until November 22, 1966 when he became Minister of Transport and Water Management and Deputy Prime Minister in the caretaker Cabinet Zijlstra serving from November 22, 1966 until April 5, 1967. He became again a Member of the Senate serving from June 13, 1967 until September 16, 1969.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Jan Eduard de Quay was born in 's-Hertogenbosch on August 26, 1901. After attending a Jesuit school in Katwijk, he graduated in psychology from the University of Utrecht in 1926. The following year he was awarded a doctorate for his thesis on the contribution of sensory and motor factors to the learning and labour process.

In 1928 he was appointed lecturer in psychotechnology at the Catholic college of higher education in Tilburg (now the University of Tilburg) and in 1933 professor of business economics and psychotechnology at the same institution. During the pre-war mobilisation of the Netherlands (1939-1940) De Quay became a lieutenant in the reserve. In July 1940 he formed the Triumvirate of the controversial nationalist Dutch Union with Louis Einthoven and Hans Linthorst Homan. This Union was controversial because its leaders suggested partial collaboration with the German occupiers. In August 1940 De Quay started secret meetings with the fascistic Nationaal Front in oder to fuse the two organisations. During these talks De Quay called himself a fascist, the Union a fascistic organisation and said that he rejected democracy.^[2] In May and June of the same year he was government commissioner for labour at the Ministry of Social Affairs. In this position he encouraged the Dutch population to seek employment in Germany. From July 1942 to June 1943 he was interned in Haaren, after which he went into hiding from the occupation authorities. This lasted until June 1943, when he went into hiding. Following the liberation of the area south of the rivers in late 1944, he became chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Commerce set up to restore the national economy.

Politics

From April 5 until June 23, 1945, De Quay was Minister of War in the Cabinet Gerbrandy II. On November 1, 1946 he became Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant until May 19, 1959. He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 19, 1959 until July 24, 1963. He served as a Member of the Senate from June 25, 1963 until November 22, 1966. During the Cabinet Zijlstra he served as Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and Deputy Prime Minister from November 22, 1966 until April 5, 1967. On June 13, 1967 he again was a Member of the Senate until September 16, 1969.

Trivia

De Quay died on July 4, 1985 in Beers, he was 83.^[3]

Decorations

• Order of the Netherlands Lion
  • Knight (September 17, 1946)
  • Commander (April 17, 1967)
• Order of Orange-Nassau
  • Commander (April 29, 1959)
  • Grand Officer (July 27, 1963)

References

External links

• Dr. J.E. de Quay (Ministry of General Affairs)
• (in Dutch) Dr. J.E. (Jan) de Quay (Parlement & Politiek)
• (in Dutch) Dr. J.E. de Quay (KVP) (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

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