Constantijn Huygens Jr.

Constantijn Huygens Jr., Lord of Zuilichem (10 March 1628 – October 1697), was a Dutch statesman and poet, mostly known for his work on scientific instruments (sometimes together with his younger brother Christiaan Huygens). But, he was also a chronicler of his times, revealing the importance of gossip. Additionally, he was an amateur draughtsman of landscapes. Biography Constantijn Huygens was the eldest son of Sir Constantijn Huygens, a poet and statesman, and Suzanna van Baerle. He was taught at home by his father and private tutors. In 1637 his mother died. Around 1640 the family was depicted by Adriaen Hanneman. Along with his younger brother Christiaan Huygens, he began his studies at Leiden university in 1645, studying law. He studied the works of classical authors on history, philosophy, and science, including mathematics from Frans van Schooten. In 1649–1650 Huygens accompanied Adriaen Pauw to England and toured through Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy. In 1655 he moved to Paris. He joined the circle around Honoré Fabri. In the Hague he also was visiting the salon, organized by the wife of François Caron. In 1668 he married Susanna Rijckaert (1642–1712), a rich woman from Amsterdam. In April 1676, during his stay in Zemst he was visited by David Teniers the Younger. In 1680 Huygens visited Celle and moved out of his father's house. It is not sure if it had to do with Abraham de Wicquefort or Sophia Dorothea of Celle. To stop the gossip his father wrote a poem: Cluijs-werck. When William III of England became stadtholder in 1672, Huygens had been appointed as his secretary. Huygens participated in the campaigns against the French, in the Glorious Revolution, but did not attend the crowning. He described the Battle of the Boyne. During the Nine Years' War, Constantijn left for the Southern Netherlands each spring, returning to London each autumn. Huygens became friends with or wrote about the Groom of the Stole William Bentinck, Arnold van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle, William Nassau de Zuylestein, Everhard van Weede Dijkvelt, Coenraad van Beuningen and Adrian Beverland. When William Blathwayt surpassed him as secretary, Huygens was frustrated and in 1695 he received permission to return to the Dutch Republic.He formally remained William's private secretary, however. As such he was succeeded by Abel Tassin d'Alonne after Huygen's death.