DRISIUS, Samuel, clergyman, born in 1602; do about 1673. His name is also written as Dries and Driesch. His parents were Germans, and he was educated in the German language. He was pastor of the Dutch Church in London, and could preach in German, Dutch, French, and English. The West India Company were anxious to have a banister that could occasionally officiate in English, and requested his appointment to New Amsterdam. The Classis asked him deliver a sermon before them in Dutch, in order to test his pronunciation, and he left Holland on 4 April 1652, and came to New Amsterdam, having charge of the Church until 1673. On account of his knowledge of English he was employed as envoy to the governor of Virginia, to negotiate a treaty. He united with Megapolensis in protesting against the Lutherans. In order that the youth might secure a classical education in New Amsterdam, Drisius proposed to establish a Latin school. He was often called to preach to the French and English, and for a while did so once a month to the Huguenot and Vandois settlers on Staten Island, but after a few years was compelled to relinquish these services on account of failing health.