page_title: Hendrik Carloff
section_title: Governor of Tobago
hierarchical_section_title: Hendrik Carloff / Life / Governor of Tobago
caption_attribution_description: English: Engraving of Jean d'Estrées (1624 - 1707). Français&#160;: Portrait du comte Jean d'Estrées (1624 - 1707).
context_page_description: Hendrik Carloff was an adventurer active in the 17th century. Carloff began his career as a cabin boy, but rose to become the Commander and Director of the Dutch West India Company. He later joined the Swedish Africa Company and the Danish Africa Company on the Gold Coast, during which time he was involved in the slave trade. Between 1676 and 1677, he was the Governor of Tobago.
context_section_description: In 1672 about 500 Dutch settlers arrived on the island of Tobago. On 18 December 1672 an English expedition captured six ships and 600 men after five or six hours of battle. The British destroyed the settlement and the settlers were deported to Barbados; Tobago was abandoned. At the Treaty of Westminster (1674) the Dutch Republic received New Walcheren back from the English.  Carloff had a plan to thwart the French shipping on the West Indies, and to populate the colony again.  The plan was approved by the Admiralty of Amsterdam, and in 1676 Jacob Binckes sailed off. Carloff was appointed by King William III as  commissioner-general  the board was dedicated to him as soon Tobago would be conquered.
  On February 21, 1677 Admiral Jean d'Estrées arrived on the island with 24 ships and 1,000 men against some 700 soldiers, 100 settlers and 15 vessels on the Dutch side. What followed is known as the Action of March 1677;  d'Estrées retreated to Grenada. On 6 December d'Estrées made another attempt to attack the colony. Contrary to expectations, he attacked the fortress from the landside. On 12 December a French cannonball caused a huge explosion at the powder storage of the fortress, and about 250 men were killed. A small group escaped, the rest surrendered.
  It is unclear what role Carloff played on the island. It seems that Carloff, who had been at odds with Binckes, did not meet expectations and was taken into custody.  The records show little on the rest of the life of Carloff.
caption: Jean II d'Estrées
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