Commander Wagenaar was a man whose habits and disposition formed a striking contrast with those of his predecessor. Mr. Van Riebeek was a little man of restless energy and fiery temper, who got into a passion whenever he fancied a slight was offered to his dignity. His contemporaries called him “the little thornback” (de luttel rogh), and the nickname was decidedly appropriate. Mr. Wagenaar, on the contrary, was an elderly man of grave demeanour, who never allowed a passion to disturb him. He possessed no ability, either mental or physical, natural or acquired, in any high degree. He was dull, impassive, averse to exertion. If he had ever been ambitious of fame or rank, the feeling had died before he came to South Africa.

He was not, however, without considerable experience in the management of business, and he had once filled a post as important as that of head of the Company's factories in Japan. Long residence in different parts of India had shattered his health, and at times he was laid up for weeks together, unable to do anything beyond attaching his signature to official documents. There was no fear of such a man pushing the settlement forward too rapidly, as some of the commissioners thought Mr. Van Riebeek had been doing. Rather, he was one under whom it was unlikely that any expense not specially authorised by superior authority would be incurred.