the Dutch East Indies, replacing Herman Willem Daendels. He arrived in Batavia, Java on 15 May 1811 and immediately involved himself in efforts to strengthen the colony's defenses. Java benefited from a larger amount of both Dutch and French troops, as well as better defenses, compared to the Cape Colony. However, the British invasion fleet arrived shortly thereafter, on 30 July, led by Sir Samuel Auchmuty. Janssens mounted a defense that centered around the existing fortifications, namely Meester Cornelis. However, the French soldiers under his command lacked well-trained officers and as the British laid siege to the fortress, Janssens personally led a futile defense and was forced to retreat to Buitenzorg (later the place of residence of the British governor-general, Sir Stamford Raffles. A large number of French soldiers were captured during the retreat and ensuing pursuit and Janssens was forced to surrender on 18 September 1811. He was imprisoned in Britain until 12 November 1812, when he was repatriated to the Netherlands. In mid-March 1814, Janssens collected 3,600 French soldiers from various garrisons and successfully marched through Allied-held territory to join Napoleon at Reims. At the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube his division was assigned to the corps commanded by Marshal Michel Ney. On 21 March 1814 his division was embroiled in a terrific struggle for the village of Grand-Torcy during which he was wounded. He resigned his post in the French Army on 9 April 1814. Post-Napoleonic War career Janssens was involved with the nascent Kingdom of the Netherlands as the provisional Commissary-General of War, but he resigned his post after his request to be posted once again as the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies was denied. He resigned from active duty on 22 May 1815. He died as a highly decorated veteran in The Hague on 23 May 1838 at age of 75. Decorations and medals Commander of the Order of the Union, 25 November 1807 Grand Cross of the Order of the Union, 3 February 1808 Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, 16 May 1811 Grand Cross of the Order of the Reunion, 22 February 1812 Grand Cross of the Military William Order (KB No.16, 8 July 1815) Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Notes References Further reading Wurtzburg, Charles Edward (1953). Raffles of the Eastern Isles. Oxford University Press. External links 1762 births 1838 deaths Royal Netherlands Army personnel Governors-General of the