Max Kohnstamm was a Dutch historian and diplomat. Max Kohnstamm was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the son of Philip Kohnstamm, a physicist, philosopher and pedagogue of Jewish-German origin. His father was married to one of the daughters of Jean Baptiste August Kessler, who helped create the company now known as Royal Dutch Shell; one of his uncles was Geldolph Adriaan Kessler, who helped create the Dutch steel industry. During World War II, Kohnstamm and Kessler were both held hostage by the Germans along with other prominent Dutchmen at camp Beekvliet in Sint-Michielsgestel; they became quite close there despite the difference in age. He was educated at Amsterdam University, where he studied Modern History, before taking up a fellowship at American University, Washington, D.C.. During 1938 and 1939 he travelled through the United States as part of his studies. His correspondence with his father during this period discussed his impressions of the United States and his concerns with the looming war. He was private secretary to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands from 1945 to 1948, then served with the Netherland Foreign Office from 1948 to 1952. 

May 22nd, 1914 in Amsterdam  /  Died:   Oct 20th, 2010 - aged 96