Jan Jacob Rochussen (23 October 1797 – 21 January 1871) was a Dutch politician. He served as finance minister from 1840 to 1843 and Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1845 to 1851. He served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 18 March 1858 to 23 February 1860.
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Life and politics
Rochussen was born in the town of Etten, North Brabant, on 23 October 1797 to Jan Rochussen, a provincial government member, and his wife. In 1815 Rochussen served in a volunteer corps against Napoleon's armies.
Rochussen found employment as a tax collector in Schiedam, South Holland beginning in 1814. Over the next twelve years he served as a tax collector in 's-Hertogenbosch, Rotterdam, and later Amsterdam. He was then selected as secretary at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, serving from 22 January until 10 August 1826. Leaving the chamber, he worked at an entrepôt – a trading post for the import and export of goods without paying duties – and eventually managed it from 18 July 1828 until 31 July 1840. It was during his time at the entrepôt that Rochussen found the favour of King William I; Rochussen later served as the king's adviser and became close to him.
Rochussen was selected to become minister of finance by William I in the king's last year of his reign, taking office on 31 July 1840. Rochussen worked to straighten the country's public finances, which were incredibly disordered. However, after a proposal to convert the nation's debt failed 30 to 24 in the Second Chamber, Rochussen was forced to resign. He was later selected as a special envoy to Brussels, a post which he held for nearly two years and which resulted in him settling inheritance and property issues to the satisfaction of both sides.