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Isaac Titsingh (1745-1812) was a senior official of the Dutch East India Company (the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC in old-spelling Dutch, literally "United East Indian Company"). Titsingh represented the world’s first multinational company in official contact with Tokugawa Japan, where he travelled to Edo twice for audiences with Shogun Ieharu and other high bafuku officials. Later, he was VOC head in Bengal at the same time as Maccartney and Cornwallis looked after English interests in India. In 1795, he represented Dutch and VOC interests in Qing (Ming) China, where his his reception in the court of Emperor Qianlong (Chien-long) stood in start contrast with rebuffs to England’s ambassador during celebrations of Quianlong’s 60 years on the throne.

JAPAN, 1779-85 Titsingh was the commercial Ooperhoofd or chief Dutch trader in Japan in 1779-80 and 1781-83, and 1784-85. The singular importance of the head of the VOC in Japan during this period was enhanced by the restrictive, self-imposed isolation. No foreigner or Japanese could enter or leave the Japanese archipelago on penalty of death. In this highly-controlled context, the VOC traders became the sole official conduit for trade and for scientific-cultural exchanges; and the VOC Opperhoofd was nominally accorded standing similar to that of a Japanese daimyo, which meant that he had to pay a visit of homage to the Shogun in Edo regularly. Titsingh travelled twice to Edo for an audience with the tenth Shogun, Tokugawa Ieharu.

INDIA, 1785-92 In 1785, Titsingh is appointed Director of the VOC trading post at Chinsura, Bengal, India. Chinsura is up-river from Calcutta on The Hooghly River, an arm of the Ganges. He meets Governor General Lord Maccartney at English East Indian headquarters in Calcutta. Macartney is replaced, which gives Titsingh an opportunity to work with a new Lord Charles Cornwallis during his first term as Governor General of India. Titsingh is first described as “the Mandarin of Chinsura” Illustrations of Japan; consisting of Private Memoirs and Anecdotes of the reigning dynasty of The Djogouby Sir William Jones (1746-1794).

BATAVIA, 1972-93 Titsingh’s transfer to Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia) led to new positions as VOC Otvanger-Generaal (Treasurer) and later as Commisaris ter Zee (Maritime Commissioner).

CHINA, 1794-95 Titsingh is appointed Dutch Ambassador to the court of the Emperor of China. In Peking for celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Chien-lung, his delegation includes Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest and Christian Louis Joseph Guignes.

RETURN TO EUROPE, 1796 Titsingh died in Paris (February 2, 1812) and was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetary (February 9, 1812). His gravestone reads: "Ici repose Isaac Titsingh. Ancien conseiller des Indes hollandaises. Ambassadeur à la Chine et au Japon. Mort à Paris le 2 Février 1812, agé de 68 ans."

LEGACY Titsingh’s experience in Japan became the foundation for posthumously published books in French and English. The most well known of these books are:

• Titsingh, Mémoires et Anecdotes sur la Dynastie régnante des Djogouns, Souverains du Japon, avec la description des fêtes et cérémonies observées aux différentes époques de l'année à la Cour de ces Princes, et un appendice contenant des détails sur la poésie des Japonais, leur manière de diviser l'année, etc; Ouvrage orné de Planches gravées et coloriées, tiré des Originaux Japonais par M. Titsingh; publié avec des Notes et Eclaircissemens Par M. Abel Rémusat. Paris (Nepveu), 1820.

• Titsingh, Illustrations of Japan; consisting of Private Memoirs and Anecdotes of the reigning dynasty of The Djogouns, or Sovereigns of Japan; a description of the Feasts and Ceremonies observed throughout the year at their Court; and of the Ceremonies customary at Marriages and Funerals: to which are subjoined, observations on the legal suicide of the Japanese, remarks on their their poetry, an explanation of their mode of reckoning time, particulars respecting the Dosia powder, the preface of a work by Confoutzee on filial piety, &c. &c. by M. Titsingh formerly Chief Agent to the Dutch East India Company at Nangaski. Translated from the French, by Frederic Shoberl with coloured plates, faithfully copied from Japanese original designs. London (Ackermann), 1822.