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.

Johannes Brons
Johannes Brons (1947)
Governor-General of Suriname
In office
26 July 1944[1] – 5 July 1948
Preceded byJohannes Kielstra
Succeeded byWillem 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
Died12 May 1964(1964-05-12) (aged 79)
The Hague, Netherlands
OccupationJudge, politician

Biography

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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

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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

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  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

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  1. ^ a b c d "Suriname heeft een Gouverneur". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 4 August 1945. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Koloniale Staten". De Telegraaf via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 3 June 1930. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "De waarnemende gouverneur". De Surinamer via Delpher.nl. 3 August 1935. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Oud-gouverneur Brons overleden". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 16 May 1964. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b "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.