<P> Peter minuit , Pieter Minuit , Pierre Minuit , or Peter Minnewit ( between 1580 and 1585 -- August 5 , 1638 ) was a Walloon from Wesel , in present - day North Rhine - Westphalia , Germany , then part of the Duchy of Cleves . His surname means `` midnight '' in French . He was Director of the Dutch colony of New Netherland from 1626 until 1631 , and founded the Swedish colony of New Sweden in 1638 . </P>
<P> Peter minuit , Pieter Minuit , Pierre Minuit , or Peter Minnewit ( between 1580 and 1585 -- August 5 , 1638 ) was a Walloon from Wesel , in present - day North Rhine - Westphalia , Germany , then part of the Duchy of Cleves . His surname means `` midnight '' in French . He was Director of the Dutch colony of New Netherland from 1626 until 1631 , and founded the Swedish colony of New Sweden in 1638 . </P>
who sold manhattan island to the dutch in 1626
who sold manhattan island to the dutch in 1626
Peter minuit
Peter minuit