Johannes Brons

Johannes Brons
Johannes Brons (1947)
Governor-General of Suriname
In office 26 July 1944[1] – 5 July 1948
Preceded by	Johannes Kielstra
Succeeded by	Willem Huender
President of the Colonial Estates
In office 1930[2]–1935[3]
Personal details
Born	Johannes Cornelis Brons (1884-08-06)6 August 1884 The Hague, Netherlands
Died	12 May 1964(1964-05-12) (aged 79) The Hague, Netherlands
Occupation	Judge, politician

Johannes Cornelis Brons[a] (6 August 1884 – 12 May 1964) was a judge, Governor of Suriname from 1944 until 1948, and President of the High Court of Justice of Suriname.

Biography

Brons was born on 6 August 1884 in The Hague. He studied law at Leiden University, and received his doctorate in 1909.[3] Between 1909 and 1926, he worked as a lawyer and prosecutor in Rotterdam.[1]

In 1926, Brons went to Suriname, served on the High Court of Justice of Suriname, and became the president of the court in 1929.[3] He served until 1943.[4] In 1930, he was elected to the Colonial Estates, and subsequently became its President.[2] In 1935, he resigned from the Estates.[3]

Brons served as Acting Governor-General of Suriname from 16 August 1935 until 12 April 1936, September 1938 until January 1939, and again on 3 January 1944.[5] On 26 July 1944,[1] he was officially appointed Governor, and served until 5 July 1948.[5]

During his tenure as governor, Brons tried to reform suffrage which was limited to wealthy men. His first attempt was rejected by the Estates of Suriname.[6] His second attempt to award suffrage to all who had finished primary school passed in September 1945.[7] After his tenure, in July 1948, universal suffrage was established in Suriname.[8]

Between 1948 and 1949, Brons worked at the Dutch Embassy in Havana. He died on 12 May 1964 in The Hague, at the age of 79.[4]

Honours and legacy

Brons was commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau, and knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.[4]

In 1948, a square in Paramaribo which contained the Lanti Djari football field, was renamed Mr. Bronsplein in his honour.[9]

Notes

1. Amigoe insisted that his middle name is Cornilis, and that they did not make an error, however no other sources seem to back up the claim.[1]

References

1. "Suriname heeft een Gouverneur". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 4 August 1945. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
2. "Koloniale Staten". De Telegraaf via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 3 June 1930. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
3. "De waarnemende gouverneur". De Surinamer via Delpher.nl. 3 August 1935. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
4. "Oud-gouverneur Brons overleden". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 16 May 1964. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
5. "Mr. J.C. Brons". Parliament of the Netherlands (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 December 2021. 3 Jan 1944-26 July 1944 was not mentioned as Acting.
6. "Staten van Suriname anti-democratisch". De Waarheid via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 10 August 1945. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
7. "Kieshervormingen in Suriname". De Waarheid (in Dutch). 15 August 1945. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
8. "Wat gebeurde er in dit jaar in de maand Januari". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 December 2021.
9. Ricky W. Stutgard (1990). Mr. Bronsplein - De eerste Surinaamse sportencyclopedie (in Dutch). Paramaribo: Alberga. ISBN 99914-949-3-6. Retrieved 21 December 2021.