Michiel de Ruyter

Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (24 March 1607 - 29 April 1676) is the most famous admiral in Dutch history. De Ruyter fought the English in the first three Anglo-Dutch Wars and scored several major victories.

Second Anglo-Dutch War

In 1664, a year before the Second Anglo-Dutch War officially began, he clashed with the English off the West African coast, where both the English and Dutch had significant slave stations, retaking the Dutch possessions occupied by Robert Holmes and then crossing the Atlantic to raid the British colonies in America.

Related Topics:
1664 - West African - Robert Holmes

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Arriving off Barbados in the Caribbean at the end of April, 1665 aboard his flagship Spiegel, he led his fleet of thirteen vessels into Carlisle Bay, exchanging fire with the English batteries and destroying many of the vessels anchored there. Unable to silence the English guns and having sustained considerable damage to his own vessels, he retired to French Martinique for repairs.

Related Topics:
Barbados - Caribbean - 1665 - Carlisle Bay - Martinique

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Sailing north from Martinique, de Ruyter captured several English vessels and delivered supplies to the Dutch colony at Sint Eustatius. Given the damage he had sustained, he decided against an assault on New York (the former New Amsterdam) to retake New Netherland and proceeded to Newfoundland, capturing several English fishing boats and temporary capturing St. John's before proceeding to Europe.

Related Topics:
Sint Eustatius - New York - New Amsterdam - New Netherland - Newfoundland - St. John's

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On his return to The Netherlands he learned that Van Wassenaer had been killed in the disastrous Battle of Lowestoft. Many had expected that command of the confederate fleet now go to Tromp's son Cornelis. Tromp however, was not acceptable to the regent regime of Johan de Witt because of his support for the Prince of Orange's cause. De Ruyter's popularity had grown after his heroic return and he instead was made commander of the Dutch fleet on 11 August 1665, as Lieutenant-Admiral of the Amsterdam admiralty.

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In this Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665–1667) he won a hard-fought victory in the Four Days Battle (June 1666) but narrowly escaped disaster in the St James's Day Battle (August 1666). He then became seriously ill, recovering just in time to take nominal command of the fleet executing the Raid on the Medway in 1667. The Medway raid was a costly and embarrassing defeat for the English, resulting in the loss of the British flagship and bringing the Dutch close to London and the war to its end.

Related Topics:
Second Anglo-Dutch War - 1665 - 1667 - Four Days Battle - 1666 - St James's Day Battle - Raid on the Medway - Flagship - London

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