17th-Century Merchant Identified as World's First Corporate Psychopath

Scientists analyzing the behavior of a 17th-century Dutch East India Company merchant have concluded he may have been the world's first corporate psychopath. Jeronimus Cornelisz, who orchestrated a deadly mutiny after the 1629 shipwreck of the Batavia off the coast of Western Australia, displayed all ten core characteristics associated with modern psychopathic executives, according to new research.

Cornelisz was aboard the Batavia when it struck reefs, leaving approximately 200 survivors stranded on remote islands. He subsequently seized power and led a mutiny that resulted in the deaths of about half the survivors. Scientists who assessed his actions using a contemporary corporate psychopathy framework found he exhibited the same tactics seen in toxic workplaces today.

"What makes this case remarkable is that when we analysed Cornelisz using a modern management psychopathy framework, he displayed every major characteristic associated with corporate psychopaths," said Dr. Clive Boddy, associate professor of management at Anglia Ruskin University. "The same playbook we see in toxic workplaces today appears in this case from 1629. He removed opponents, rewarded loyalists, created fear, manipulated followers and pursued power at any cost."

Corporate psychopaths are known to use charm and manipulation to gain influence, build a loyal inner circle, and sideline potential challengers. They often create a climate of fear, avoid responsibility for failures, and prioritize power and personal gain above all else.

Following the shipwreck, Cornelisz, as the most senior corporate figure among the survivors, consolidated his power. He replaced council members with loyal supporters, required oaths of allegiance, and isolated opponents. Under his command, around 100 men, women, and children were murdered, with some women subjected to sexual violence. Cornelisz justified the killings as necessary for conserving dwindling food and water supplies, though they also served to eliminate perceived rivals.

In contrast, another group of survivors on a different island, led by Wiebbe Hayes, demonstrated cooperative leadership. Hayes' group successfully organized efforts to find fresh water and sustenance, discovering wells, seabird eggs, fish, wallabies, and seals. "Perhaps the most striking finding is that another leader facing the same circumstances achieved completely different outcomes," Dr. Boddy explained. "Wiebbe Hayes built cooperation, discovered new resources and kept people alive. This was effectively a natural experiment in leadership. One group prospered while the other descended into murder and abuse."

The Dutch East India Company, considered the world's first multinational corporation, was established in 1602. The case of Cornelisz suggests that individuals driven by ambition, wealth, and personal power were attracted to major commercial ventures from the early days of modern capitalism.

The researchers noted that corporate psychopaths typically establish control, foster a cowed workforce, and create a climate of fear through abuse and intimidation. Cornelisz exhibited these traits to an extreme degree. His methods, including presenting a grandiose image, replacing leadership with personal appointees, using divide-and-conquer tactics, and employing fear and dark humor for control, mirror those still used by corporate psychopaths today.

The study, published in the Asian Journal of Business Ethics, highlights the ongoing challenges posed by psychopathic leadership in modern organizations, linking it to workplace bullying, harassment, reduced employee well-being, higher staff turnover, and organizational failure. The findings reinforce the call for employers to emphasize character, ethics, and values in the selection of senior leaders.