Jacques Delprat

Jacques Delprat was born in the former Dutch East Indies, where his father worked for a railroad company. He went to school in Amsterdam and studied at the Technical University in Delft, graduating in 1908. He then went to Scotland, where he worked for a company that manufactured machinery for sugar production. He subsequently returned to the Dutch East Indies working as an engineer for various companies in Semarang and Surabaya, but in 1914 moved to work with a lumber company.

Delprat also held several posts in the respective chambers of commerce and industry and as vice-consul of Sweden. After his return to the Netherlands he worked for institutions supporting trade with South Africa. He also was on the board of various companies travelling frequently, especially to South Africa. As a student he was an excellent rower and a three-time winner of his university championship.