Dutch by birth; from 1698 in the Russian service. He participated in the Northern War of 1700-21. In 1713-22 he was the head of the mining plants of the Olonets Territory. Since 1722, head of the Ural mining plants. Under him, old factories were improved and 9 new ones were built. After returning from the Urals (1734), he was the manager of the Main Artillery Chancellery, rebuilt the Tula factories, and headed the Sestroretsk factories. He was considered a very efficient and disinterested administrator.