Researcher Names First Corporate Psychopath in History
A new academic study identifies a 17th-century merchant as the earliest known example of corporate psychopathy.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Corruption
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Researcher Clive Roland Boddy has identified Jeronimus Cornelisz, a merchant from the Dutch East India Company, as history's first corporate psychopath. The finding, published in the Asian Journal of Business Ethics, details how Cornelisz exploited his position following a historic 1629 shipwreck off the coast of Western Australia.
Why it matters
The study provides a historical framework for understanding the behaviour of corporate psychopaths by linking past atrocities to modern leadership theories. It highlights the recurring nature of these ten specific personality traits over the last 400 years.
Jeronimus Cornelisz and his ringleaders were formally tried and executed by hanging for their crimes. The investigation confirms he exhibited all 10 identified characteristics of corporate psychopathy during his leadership of the shipwrecked survivors.
The players
Clive Roland Boddy
A researcher who published a study in the Asian Journal of Business Ethics examining the characteristics of corporate psychopathy.
Jeronimus Cornelisz
A Dutch East India Company merchant who assumed control of shipwreck survivors and was eventually executed for orchestrating mass murder.
The details
Following the Batavia shipwreck on 4 June 1629, Cornelisz seized control of the survivors by replacing legitimate council members with his own colluders. He consolidated all essential supplies and treasure within his tent to maximise his power over the roughly 250 people stranded on Beacon Island.
Timeline
The Batavia ship ran aground on 4 June 1629.
Legal Context
This case establishes a historical parallel to the 1629 Batavia shipwreck by demonstrating how individuals may exploit crises to consolidate power. It underscores how legal systems have long struggled to prosecute leaders who weaponise organisational structures for personal gain.
While this is a historical analysis, it provides residents with a deeper understanding of the warning signs associated with unchecked authority. The findings serve as a reminder for the public to scrutinise power dynamics within organisations to ensure transparency and safety.
The takeaway
The study suggests that the core traits of corporate psychopathy have remained consistent for four centuries. Recognising these patterns of behaviour is essential for maintaining ethical leadership in any modern organisation.
Further reading
Learn more about modern oversight efforts in our Corruption section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ScienceAlert.
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