Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck

Dutch statesman and lawyer, born in Deventer, C Netherlands. He supported the Patriots, and in 1795 chaired the temporary administration of Amsterdam. As ambassador in Paris he helped negotiate the Peace of Amiens (1802), after which he was ambassador, first in London and later again in Paris. At Napoleon's request he produced a new Constitution (1805) for the Batavian Republic, which he headed as Grand Pensionary, introducing many improvements, particularly in education and taxation. He did not accept the Kingdom of Holland and returned to his estates near Deventer. Napoleon made him a count in 1811. He was in Paris (1811–13), and on his return became a member of the Upper House in 1815.

Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck (Deventer, 31 October 1761 - Amsterdam, 15 February 1825) was a Dutch politician of the Batavian Republic.

He was a member of the National Assembly (1796 - 1798) and belonged to the moderate unitarians, who were advocates of a central government. He was president of the National Assembly and acting head of state of the Batavian Republic between 17 May 1796 and 30 May 1796 and between 15 May 1797 and 29 May 1797.

He was the Batavian (Dutch) ambassador to France between 1798 and 1801 and from 1803 to 1805 and the Batavian ambassador to Britain in 1802 and 1803.