17th Century Merchant Labeled World's First Corporate Psychopath

Scientists analyzing the behavior of a 17th-century Dutch East India Company merchant have concluded that Jeronimus Cornelisz may have been the world's first corporate psychopath. His actions following the 1629 shipwreck of the Batavia off the coast of Western Australia, where he orchestrated the murder of approximately 100 survivors, align with modern frameworks for identifying psychopathic executives.

Cornelisz, an official aboard the Batavia, seized power after the ship struck reefs and approximately 200 survivors were stranded on remote islands. Researchers found that he exhibited all ten core characteristics associated with toxic business leaders. "The same playbook we see in toxic workplaces today appears in this case from 1629," said Dr. Clive Boddy, associate professor of management at Anglia Ruskin University. "He removed opponents, rewarded loyalists, created fear, manipulated followers and pursued power at any cost."

These characteristics include using charm to gain trust, building a loyal inner circle while sidelining challengers, encouraging divisions among rivals, creating a climate of fear, manipulating followers, avoiding responsibility, and prioritizing power and personal gain above all else. Following the disaster, Cornelisz consolidated his authority by replacing council members with his own supporters, demanding oaths of allegiance, and isolating those who might oppose him.

The murders, which also included sexual violence against some women, were ostensibly justified by Cornelisz as a means to conserve dwindling food and water supplies, but they also served to eliminate perceived rivals. Meanwhile, a separate group of survivors led by Wiebbe Hayes on another island successfully organized for survival, discovering freshwater wells and ample food sources, leading to their prosperity.

"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, established in 1602, is considered the world's first multinational corporation. The research suggests that individuals driven by ambition and personal power were attracted to such large commercial ventures from the early days of modern capitalism.

The study, published in the Asian Journal of Business Ethics, argues that corporate psychopaths continue to present significant challenges in modern organizations, contributing to workplace bullying, harassment, reduced employee well-being, and increased staff turnover. The findings underscore the importance for employers to prioritize character, ethics, and values when selecting senior leaders.