Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter 1607 1676 Dutch Anglo-Dutch Wars
Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (24 March 1607 – 29 April 1676) is one of the most famous admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French in these wars and scored several major victories, the best known probably being the Raid on the Medway. The pious De Ruyter was very much loved by his sailors and soldiers; from them his most significant nickname derived: Bestevaêr (older Dutch for 'grandfather'.) He is honoured by a statue in his birthplace Vlissingen, where he stands looking over the sea. In July 1655 De Ruyter took command of a squadron of eight of which the Tijdverdrijf was his flagship and set out for the Mediterranean with 55 merchantmen in convoy. His orders were to protect Dutch trade. Meeting an English fleet under Robert Blake along the way, he managed to avoid creating a new flag incident. Operating off the Barbary Coast he captured several infamous corsairs and having negotiated a peace agreement with Salé, De Ruyter returned home May 1656. The same month the States-General, becoming ever more wary of Swedish king Charles X and his expansion plans, decided to intervene in the Northern Wars by sending a fleet to the Baltic Sea. The Swedes controlled this area after Charles had invaded Poland and made himself king there. De Ruyter once again embarked on the Tijdverdrijf arriving in the Sound 8 June; there he waited for Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam to arrive. After Obdam had assumed command De Ruyter and the Dutch fleet sailed to relieve the besieged city of Gdańsk on 27 July, without any bloodshed. Peace was signed a month later. Before leaving the Baltic De Ruyter and other flagofficers were granted audience by Frederick III of Denmark. De Ruyter took a liking to the Danish king who would later become a personal friend. In 1658 the States-General under the advise of the leading Cornelis de Graeff decided to once again send a fleet to the B
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