Frans Banning Cocq

Frans Banning Cocq (* 1605 in Amsterdam, † January 6, 1655 ), Knight of St. Michael, Army of Purmerland and Ilpendam ( Jure uxoris ) was a regent of Amsterdam 's Golden Age. He became famous for his portrayal as Captain of the Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn.

Life

He was the son of Jan Banning Cocq, one emigrated from Bremen pharmacist and an Amsterdam patrician daughter. Frans Banning Cocq had studied law in France, and was already at the age of 22 years of Louis XIII. knighted. After his return to Amsterdam he became a military captain of the town and 1634 as Vroedschap member of the city government. In 1630 he married Maria Overlander, the heiress of the knight and City ruler Volkert Overlander. From his widow he inherited in 1637 the High glory Purmerland and Ilpendam.

Between the years 1650 and 1655 Frans Banning Cocq had been a powerful mayor of his hometown. Politically, he was on the side of his brother Cornelis de Graeff and his partisans Johan van Huydecoper Maarsseveen. In the first year of its citizens Championship, he joined with other regents a Navy contract with the Spanish King Philip IV in 1653 he brought the Amsterdam Vroedschap by English mediation, the peace offering of England.

Frans Banning Cocq was buried in the Old Church, Amsterdam.