Herman Willem Daendels, a Dutch general, born at Hattem, Gelderland, Oct. 22, 1762, died on the Guinea coast, Africa, May 2, 1818. He took the patriotic side in the political strife of 1787, and on the triumph of the Orangists fled to France, and engaged in business in Dunkirk. He became colonel of a corps of volunteers in the French army in 1793, and served in the expeditions of Dumouriez and Pichegru against Holland, rising to the rank of brigadier general; and upon the expulsion of the house of Orange by the latter he entered the service of the Batavian republic, and took part in the organization of the government. He commanded one of the three divisions which in 1799 repulsed the descent of the Russian fleet on the coast. In 1803 he resigned, but on the outbreak of war in 1806 he entered the service of the king of Holland, and was restored to his former rank, and served against the Prussians. In October, 1806, he occupied East Friesland, and was made governor of Minister. He was subsequently made commander-in-chief of the cavalry, marshal of Holland, and governor general of the East Indian provinces, holding the last office from 1808 to 1811, displaying great administrative ability, and introducing important reforms.

He subsequently served in the Russian campaign, and after the fall of Napoleon was intrusted with the organization of the E. African colonies which had been restored to the Dutch. He published an account of his East Indian administration, Staat der Nederlandschen Oost-indischen Bezittingen, which gave important information of the resources and moral condition of Java and the neighboring islands.