Michiel de Ruyter

Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676), Dutch naval commander, born in Flushing. During the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-1654), he distinguished himself against the English, while serving under the Dutch admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp. In 1653, de Ruyter became vice-admiral of Holland, and during the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1664-1667) he defeated the English in the Four Days' Battle fought near Dunkerque, France, in 1666. In June of 1667, de Ruyter conducted a daring expedition up the River Medway in England, destroying Upnor Castle and burning a great number of English ships. As admiral in chief of the Dutch fleet during the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-1678), he saved the fleet from destruction by English and French ships in the Battle of Southwold Bay off the English coast in 1672, and prevented an allied invasion of Holland in 1673. De Ruyter was fatally wounded in a battle against the French fleet near Sicily in 1676.