Hendrik Merkus, Baron de Kock (25 May 1779 – 12 April 1845) was a Dutch military officer, colonial administrator and politician who served as lieutenant governor-general of the Dutch East Indies from 1826 to 1830. He also served as Minister of the Interior from 1836 to 1841.^[1]

Hendrik Merkus de Kock was born on 25 May 1779 in Heusden, Dutch Republic. His father was Jean Conrad de Kock, a banker who was guillotined in Paris, and his mother was Maria Petronella Merkus.^[1]

In 1801, he joined the Batavian Navy, and by 1807 was posted to the Dutch East Indies. In 1821 he commanded a military expedition to Palembang to suppress a local uprising. Later, as Lieutenant Governor-General (1826–1830), De Kock led the fight against Prince Diponegoro in the Java War.^[1]

The triumphant commander was declared a baron in 1835, and served in the Dutch Government as Minister of the Interior from 1836 to 1841. He was Minister of State from 1841 to 1845. He remained a member of the First Chamber of parliament until his death. He died in The Hague on 12 April 1845.^[1]

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  De Kock's fleet conquering Palembang in 1821, by Louis Meijer
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  The Submission of Prince Dipo Negoro to General De Kock (1830) by Nicolaas Pieneman

• Knight in the Order of the Union (1807)^[1]
• Commander in the Order of the Union (1808)^[1]
• Commander in the Order of the Reunion (1812)^[1]
• Knight 3rd Class Military William Order (1815)^[1]
• Commander Military William Order (1821)^[1]
• Grand Cross Military William Order (1830)^[1]
• Grand Cross Order of the Netherlands Lion (1841)^[1]

• Media related to Hendrik Merkus Baron de Kock at Wikimedia Commons