Hugo Grotius, aka Hugo de Groot,
born this day 442 years ago, April 10, 1583.
Author of the treatise “De Jure Belli et Pacis” (1625) — perhaps fittingly books about war and peace — which first used the phrase “eminent domain” to describe the sovereign power to forcibly acquire private property for public use and upon provision of compensation:
Rights strictly taken is again of two Sorts, either private and inferior, which tends to the particular Advantage of each Individual: Or eminent and superior, such as a Community has over the Persons and Estates of all its Members for the common Benefit, and therefore it excells the former. Thus a regal Power is above that of a Father and Master; a King has a greater Right in the Goods of his Subjects for the publick Advantage, than the Proprietors themselves. And when the Exigencies of the State require a Supply, every Man is more obligated to contribute towards it, than to satisfy his Creditors.
We’ve covered Grotius before, noting that in addition to his legal work he is famous for having done a “Count of Monte Cristo” thing — escaping from prison, reportedly by hiding in a chest of books.
The museum in Amsterdam has one of the boxes which lays claim on being the box. More on that story here.
Did we make it a point to visit that box when we were last in town? You know it, brother.
What’s in the box? Hugo Grotius!
“long thought” to be the box…
Happy 442d, Hugo!