Career
Michiels entered military service at age 17 years, participated in the Battle of Waterloo, and in 1817 went to the island of Java, where he was directly involved in the conflict in Cirebon. On August 29, 1818 he was promoted to captain. He fought in the Java War as a colonel commandant.
He led the raid on Bonjol and under his leadership he was able to take lieutenant
Foreign his success, he was promoted to colonel on October 3, 1837. Under his leadership, in 1838 he conquered Kuta, and in 1840 overpowered Barus, Tapoes and Singkil, in 1841 he suppressed a rebellion in Batipo and in 1844 and 1845, a general attack was launched.
In 1841, he was appointed as an aide in the special service of kings and commanders of the Military William Order. In 1843, Michiels obtained the rank of major general.
On 20 November 1837, Michiels was appointed governor of the West Coast of Sumatra.
He supported the traditional leaders and with their assistance, the Dutch government was established in the Minangkabau highlands. His policy was rather rough and was criticized by Ferdinand Vermeulen Krieger and Wolter Robert van Hoëvell. Dekker was suspended from office, and moved to Padang without earning anything.
Dekker included a character General Van Damme in his novel Max Havelaar based upon Michiels.
On February 19, 1849, Michiels was appointed temporary commander Royal Dutch East Indies Army and leader of government affairs and chairman of Bali for the 3rd expedition against a number of kingdoms in Bali. He was succeeded as governor by January van Swieten.
After victories in a number of skirmishes, Michiels was killed in a night attack. His tombstone is now in a cemetery now known as Taman Prasasti Museum, Jakarta, Indonesia.
