Pieter Teyler Van der Hulst Dutch banker, philanthropist Date of Birth: 25.03.1702 Country: Netherlands

Biography of Peter Taylor van der Hulst

Peter Taylor van der Hulst, a Dutch banker and trader, was a prominent patron of science, religion, and the arts. Born in Haarlem, Dutch Republic, he played a significant role in supporting local scientists and artists. However, it was after his death that he made his biggest contribution to the advancement of these fields. Van der Hulst left a substantial sum of money, approximately 80 million euros by today's standards, to fund the needs of religion, science, and art, thus becoming the founder of the Taylor Museum.

Van der Hulst was an active member of the Scottish Enlightenment, and his name was derived from the Scottish name 'Taylor.' In 1728, he married Lady Helena Wynands Verschaave and became a respected figure in the Waterlander Mennonite community. He was also held in high regard by non-Mennonites, such as George Clifford III, a legendary Dutch entrepreneur and sponsor of Carl Linnaeus. Patronage of scientists and artists was common among Dutch-Scottish entrepreneurs and bankers of that time, including Taylor, Clifford, and the Hope family.

Taylor focused his philanthropic efforts primarily on supporting the Mennonites. In 1752, he even founded a Mennonite courtyard called 'hofje.' During the 18th century in Amsterdam, Protestants dominated the city's leadership, including the Dutch stadtholder. This resulted in limited opportunities for Quakers, Mennonites, and Roman Catholics to access the Dutch Scientific Society, which supported science in all its forms. However, the society later changed its policy, and the Taylor Museum became one of the key resources for the Dutch scientific community. As a result, Dutch science greatly benefitted from Taylor's legacy.

In addition to supporting the College of Natural History, Taylor also patronized the Dutch Scientific Society. These organizations included almost all Mennonites and residents of Haarlem who had an interest in natural history. Taylor also supported other scientific projects, and his funds contributed to the establishment of several educational institutions, such as the City School of Drawing and the music college.

After Taylor's death, a significant collection of books, drawings, and natural history artifacts remained. Unfortunately, a precise description of this collection has not survived to this day. It is known that the executors of Taylor's will sold part of the collection to create the legendary Oval Room, and subsequently, some artifacts were auctioned off. However, the museum managed to preserve a considerable part of Taylor's coin collection over the years, and many of the paintings and drawings he purchased still adorn the museum. Taylor's former home in Haarlem has now been incorporated into the Taylor Museum, and its doors are opened to the public by appointment or during the annual event, "Monumentendag."

The Taylor Museum itself stands as a testament to the banker's love for science and art.