Gaspar Fagel

Gaspar Fagel (25 January 1634 – 15 December 1688) was a Dutch politician, jurist, and diplomat who authored correspondence from and on behalf of William III, Prince of Orange, during the English Revolution of 1688. Early life Fagel was born into a distinguished patrician family. Little is known of his early life, but in 1663 he was elected Pensionary of Haarlem and as such was also a member representative of the States of Holland. Political career In 1667, Fagel, Johan de Witt, Gillis Valckenier, and Andries de Graeff signed the Perpetual Edict, a resolution to abolish the office of Stadtholder in the County of Holland. At approximately the same time, a majority of provinces in the States-General agreed to declare the office of stadtholder incompatible with the office of captain general of the Dutch Republic. In 1670, Fagel was made Secretary of the Staten-Generaal. After the resignation and subsequent murder of Johan and Cornelis de Witt in 1672, Fagel was elevated to the position of Grand Pensionary. He was distinguished for his integrity and the firmness with which he repelled the attempts of Louis XIV of France against his country, and for his zeal in supporting the claims of William III, Prince of Orange to the English throne.