Dictionary Definition
pensionary
Noun
1 the beneficiary of a pension fund [syn:
pensioner]
2 a person who works only for money [syn:
hireling]
Extensive Definition
A pensionary was a name given to the leading
functionary and legal adviser of the principal town corporations in
the Netherlands
because they received a salary, or pension.
At first this official was known by the name of
clerk or advocate. The office originated in Flanders. The
earliest pensionaries in Holland were those
of Dordrecht
(1468) and of
Haarlem
(1478). The
pensionary conducted the legal business of the town, and was the
secretary of the town council and its representative and spokesman
at the meetings of the Provincial
States. The post of pensionary was permanent and his influence
was great.
In the States of the province of Holland
pensionary of the order of nobles (Ridderschap)
was the foremost official of that assembly and he was named until
the death of Oldenbarneveldt
in 1619 the
Land's Advocate, or more shortly, the advocate. The importance
of the advocate was much increased after the outbreak of the revolt
in 1572, and
still more so during the long period 1586–1619 when John van
Oldenbarneveldt held the office. The advocate drew up and
introduced all resolutions, concluded debates and counted the votes
in the Provincial Assembly. When it was not in session he was a
permanent member of the college of deputed councillors who carried
on the administration. He was minister of justice and of
finance.
All correspondence passed through his hands, and
he was the head and the spokesman of the deputation, who
represented the province in the States
General. The conduct of foreign affairs in particular was
entrusted almost entirely to him.
After the downfall of Oldenbarneveldt the office
of landsadvocate was abolished, and a new post, tenable for five
years only, was erected in its place with the title of
Raad-Pensionaris or Pensionary of the Council, usually called by
English writers Grand
Pensionary. The first holder of this office was Anthony
Duyck, Jacob Cats and
Adrian
Pauw, in the days of the stadtholders
Frederick Henry and
William II of Orange-Nassau had to be content with lessened
powers, but in the stadtholderless regime 1650–1672 the grand
pensionary became even more influential than Oldenbarneveldt
himself, since there was no prince of Orange filling the offices of
stadtholder, and of admiral and captain-general of the Union.
From 1653–1672 Johan de
Witt, re-elected twice, made the name of grand pensionary of
Holland for ever famous during the time of the wars with
England. The best known of his successors was Anthony
Heinsius, who held the office from 1688 to his death in
1720. He was
the intimate friend of
William III, and after the decease of the king continued to
carry out his policy during the stadtholderless period that
followed. The office was abolished after the conquest of Holland by
the French in 1795.
See Robert Fruin, Geschiedenis der
Staats-Instellingen in Nederland, The Hague, 1901; G W. Vreede,
Inleiding tot eene Gesch. der Nederlandsche Diplomatie (Utrecht,
1858). (G. E.)
References
pensionary in German: Ratspensionär
pensionary in French: Grand-pensionnaire
pensionary in Dutch:
Raadspensionaris