[or Minnewit]. Dutch colonist, born in Wesel, Rhenish Prussia; removed to Holland; in 1625 was appointed director in New Netherlands; first governor of Manhattan Island, which he purchased from the Indians for about $24; he built Fort Amsterdam; recalled in 1631 on account of the rapid extension of land grants; offered his services to the Swedish government, and in 1637 set sail from Gothenburg with a body of Swedish and Finnish colonists; planted his colony near the present city of Wilmington, the first permanent European settlement on the Delaware River. He died at Fort Christiana.
