Dutch Captain: Floris Floriszoon Bloem

Floris Floriszoon Bloem served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In August 1665, he commanded the Groote Harder (38 guns). He was assigned to Cornelis Evertsen's squadron. In 1666, he commanded the Zon (or Vergulde Zon) (44 guns). this was the old ship built in 1640 that had seen hard service in the First Anglo-Dutch War, and at the Battle of the Sound in 1658. In 1666, he fought in the Four Days' Battle and the St. James's Day Battle. At the Four Days' Battle, he was assigned to Abraham van der Hulst's division. In the St. James's Day Battle, he was assigned to Jan Evertsen's squadron. In July, 1667, he took part in the Raid on Harwich, where he again commanded the Groote Harder (32 guns). Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
3. H.A. van Foreest and R.E.J. Weber, De Vierdaagse Zeeslag 11-14 Juni 1666, 1984.
4. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.