First Anglo-Dutch War

The First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-54) (called the First Dutch War in England, and the First English War in the Netherlands) was the first of the four Anglo-Dutch Wars. It was fought entirely at sea between the navies of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Caused by disputes over trade, the war began with attacks on merchant shipping, but expanded to vast fleet actions. The English navy gained control of the seas around England, and forced the Dutch to accept an English monopoly on trade with English colonies.

War

War was declared on 10 July 1652. The Dutch realized what was at stake: one of the departing ambassadors said, "The English are about to attack a mountain of gold; we are about to attack a mountain of iron."

Related Topics:
10 July - 1652

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The first months of the war saw attacks by the English against the convoys of the Dutch. Blake was sent with 60 ships to disrupt Dutch fishing in the North Sea and Dutch trade with the Baltic, leaving Ayscue with a small force to guard the Channel. On 12 July 1652 Ayscue intercepted a Dutch convoy returning from Portugal, capturing seven merchantmen and destroying three. Tromp gathered a fleet of 96 ships to attack Ayscue but winds from the south kept him in the North Sea. Turning north to pursue Blake, Tromp caught up with the English fleet off the Shetland Islands but a storm scattered his ships and there was no battle. On 26 August 1652 Ayscue attacked an outward-bound Dutch convoy commanded by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter but was beaten back in the Battle of Plymouth and relieved of his command.

Related Topics:
12 July - 1652 - Shetland Islands - 26 August - Michiel de Ruyter - Battle of Plymouth

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Tromp had also been suspended after the failure at the Shetlands, and Admiral Witte de With was given the command. The Dutch convoys being at the time safe from English attack, de With saw an opportunity to concentrate his forces and gain control of the seas. At the Battle of the Kentish Knock on 8 October 1652 the Dutch attacked the English fleet near the mouth of the River Thames, but were beaten back with severe losses. The English Parliament, believing the Dutch to be near defeat, sent away twenty ships to strengthen the position in the Mediterranean. This division of forces left Blake with only 42 men of war by November, while the

Related Topics:
Witte de With - Battle of the Kentish Knock - 8 October - 1652 - River Thames - Mediterranean

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Dutch were making every effort to reinforce their fleet, and this led to English defeats in the Battle of Dungeness in December and the Battle of Leghorn early in 1653. The Dutch had effective control of the Channel, the North Sea, and the Mediterranean, with English ships blockaded in port.

Related Topics:
Battle of Dungeness - Battle of Leghorn - 1653

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Despite its successes, the Dutch Republic was ill-prepared for a naval war. As press-ganging was forbidden, enormous sums had to be paid to attract enough sailors. To make matters worse, political controversy arose about the proper course of action: should the Dutch navy be extended or should defensive measures against a possible land invasion take precedence? Unable to assist all of their colonies they had to allow the Portuguese to reconquer Brazil.

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Over the winter of 1652–1653 the English repaired their ships and considered their position. Robert Blake wrote the Sailing and Fighting Instructions a major overhaul of naval tactics, containing the first description of the line of battle. By February 1653 the English were ready to challenge the Dutch, and in the three-day Battle of Portland in March and the two-day Battle of the Gabbard in June drove the Dutch back to their home ports.

Related Topics:
1652 - 1653 - Sailing and Fighting Instructions - Line of battle - Battle of Portland - Battle of the Gabbard

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The final battle of the war was the costly Battle of Scheveningen in August. The Dutch tried to break the English blockade but after heavy fighting with much damage to both sides, the Dutch retreated to the Texel leaving the English in control of the seas. Tromp was killed early in the battle, a blow to morale which increased the Dutch opinion to end the war. Similar feelings arose in England after Oliver Cromwell dissolved the pro-war Rump Parliament.

Related Topics:
Battle of Scheveningen - Texel - Oliver Cromwell - Rump Parliament

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Dutch prizes taken during the war (about 1200 merchantmen) amounted to double the value of England's whole ocean-going merchant fleet.

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