The Dutch ‘artisan sapiens ' Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy (ca. 1620-?1664) sought to end the religious and social strife, that was so characteristic of seventeenth century Europe. To achieve peace and religious toleration he wanted to create a ‘commonwealth' where there would be – amongst others – freedom of conscience and religion, and which would have an egalitarian character. In order to realize his ideas he solicited support from a number of public and private sponsors, notably Oliver Cromwell and the City of Amsterdam. Although finally successful in establishing his commonwealth in the Dutch colony of Delaware, war destroyed his settlement after only nine months. Plockhoy's ideas were preserved in the pamphlets he published to further his cause, and on that basis European and American historians of diverse persuasions have classed him as a forerunner of, among others, socialism and toleration. Some regard him as a highly original thinker. This research project aims at writing an intellectual biography of this forgotten ‘utopian' and focus on the development of his religious and social ideas.
