Google
  Web anglo-dutch-wars.blogspot.com

Saturday, April 30, 2005

English Captain: Francis Steward

Francis Steward served in both the Commonwealth and Restoration navies. R. C. Anderson confirms that he served both before and after the Restoration. In 1653, Francis Steward commanded the hired merchantman Sarah (34 guns). At the Battle of the Gabbard, he was assigned to Lionel Lane's division. He probably fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, as well. In 1665, the Duke of Albemarle appointed Francis Steward to command the Happy Entrance. At the time of the Battle of Lowestoft, the Happy Entrance was at Portsmouth, fitting out. Later in 1665, the Duke appointed him to command the Maria Sanctus (St. Maria). In 1666, he was appointed to command the Dutch prize Golden Phoenix (60 guns). Francis Steward fought in the Four Days Battle in the Golden Phoenix, where he was assigned to Richard Utber's divison. On 25 July 1666, he fought at the St. James's Day Battle, where he was assigned to Sir Jeremy Smith's division. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.

  2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

  3. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

  4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.


# posted by Jim : 9:58 AM  

Friday, April 29, 2005

English Captain: Jeffrey Pearce (or Pearse)

Jeffrey Pearce (Pearse) was appointed as Lieutenant of the Dover in 1664. He was appointed as captain of the 4th Dover (46 guns) later in 1664. He fought in the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was assigned to Sir John Lawson's division. At the Four Days Battle, he was assigned to Sir Robert Holmes's division. He also fought in the St. James's Day Battle on 25 July 1666, where he was assigned to Sir Thomas Teddiman's division. In 1667, he was reappointed as captain of the Dover. In 1669, he was appointed as captain of the Eaglett ketch. In 1672, he was appointed as captain of the 2nd Rate St. George (64 guns). He was killed at the Battle of Solebay on 28 May 1672. At the Battle of Solebay, he was assigned to Sir John Kempthorne's division. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.

  2. Julian S. Corbett, “A Note on the Drawings in the Possession of The Earl of Dartmouth Illustrating The Battle of Solebay May 28, 1672 and The Battle of the Texel August 11, 1673”, 1908.

  3. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

  4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.


# posted by Jim : 5:06 AM  

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

English Captain: Ralph Lassells (or Lascelles)

Ralph Lassells (Lascelles) served in the Restoration navy. In 1665, he commanded the hired merchantman Society (36 guns). At Lowestoft, he was assigned to Thomas Teddiman's division. He commanded the Society from 21 February 1665 until 3 June 1666. He commanded the Society in the Battle of Lowestoft, the action at Bergen, and the actions against returning Dutch ships from Norway on 3 and 9 September 1665. At Bergen, the Society had two men killed. In 1666, he commanded first the hired ship George (from 4 June 1666 until 22 September 1666). At the time of the Four Days Battle, the George was fitting out. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle on 25 July 1666. He was assigned to John Kempthorne's division. Later in 1666, Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed him captain of the Reserve. In 1672, Prince Rupert appointed him to command the 4th Rate Assurance. In August 1672, he was assigned to Richard Beach's division. In 1673, Prince Rupert appointed him to command the Yarmouth. Finally on 9 March 1674, the King appointed him to command the Garland. Ralph Lassells died in May 1677. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.

  2. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

  3. Frank Fox, "Hired Men-of-War, 1664-7", Part II, The Mariner's Mirror Vol.84 No.2 (May 1998).

  4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.


# posted by Jim : 6:42 PM  

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Carel van Putte

Carel van Putte was born in Vlissingen on 11 January 1634. He died in Vlissingen on 17 April 1695. He served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He commanded in the operation to take Prins Willem III to England in 1688. He fought in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690. In 1692, he fought in the Battle of Cape La Hougue. In 1694, he fought at Camaret. IOn 23 August 1666, he was appointed extraordinary captain. In 1672, he was appointed as captain. On 20 September 1679, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. On 1 April 1684, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral. This is from my translation of the piece in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek. We know a bit more about him, at least the ships he commanded:
  • 1672: commanded the frigate Ter Goes (34 guns) Probably fought at Solebay
  • 1673: commanded the warship Domburg (60 guns) probably fought in the Schooneveld battles and the Battle of the Texel
  • 1674: commanded the Vlissingen (50 guns) probably in the expedition to Martinique
  • 1688: flew his flag on the Gekroonde Burg (60 guns) in the operation to carry Willem III to England
This is from my unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1620-1700", 2004.

# posted by Jim : 10:18 AM  

Monday, April 25, 2005

English Captain: John Humphreys (or Humphrey)

John Humphreys served in the Commonwealth navy. In 1652, he commanded the hired merchantman Friendship. From 1652 to 1654, he commanded the 5th Rate Nightingale. He fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock in the Nightingale (22 guns). In early 1653, he fought in the Battle of Portland, where the Nightingale carried 26 guns. In December 1653, he was operating on the coast of Ireland with 6 other ships. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
  2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  3. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.

# posted by Jim : 10:43 AM  

Sunday, April 24, 2005

English Captain: Philip Gething (or Gethings)

Philip Gethings served the Commonwealth navy. He was first seen recovering the Mary ketch from the Royalists in 1649. He commanded the 6th Rate Tenth Whelp (16 guns and a crew of 60 men) from 1651 to 1652. In early 1652, his ship was intended for the Summer Guard for 1652. In 1651, he took part in the capture of Jersey from the Royalists. In 1653, he commanded the Convert and then the Mathias. In the Convert, he fought in the Battle of Portland. On 30 March 1653, he sailed from Portsmouth as part of William Penn's squadron. At the Battle of the Gabbard, he was assigned to Joseph Jordan's division. At the Battle of Scheveningen, he probably commanded the Mathias (38 guns). From 1654 to 1656, he commanded the Preston. In 1656 he commanded the Newcastle. He died in 1656. None of my sources mention him during 1656, so I don't know the circumstances of his death. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.

  2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

  3. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910

  4. Michael Baumber, General-at-Sea, 1989.

  5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.


# posted by Jim : 5:19 AM  

Saturday, April 23, 2005

English Captain: Jasper Grant

Andrew found some information about Jasper Grant, who served in the Restoration navy. He was born about 1625 and died in 1697. He served in the navy from 1665 to 1674. He had only 4 commands during that period. Before 1665, he was a merchant captain and privateer. He was "married by Gillian Hely of Kinsale in 1667, and his will was dated 8 April 1697 at Grantstown. His commision dated 17 April 1664 appointed him to "The Mermaid", and dated 2 April 1672 to the command of "The Reserve". Both commissions were signed by James Duke of York, then Lord High Admiral." From Pepys, we know a little more about Jasper Grant. Pepys has him appointed to the Mermaid in 1665. Later in 1665, he was appointed to command the 4th Rate Sapphire. In 1672, he was appointed to command the 4th Rate Reserve. He was discharged by a court martial in 1672. Frank Fox has information about Jasper Grant's service in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Jasper Grant fought in the Battle of Lowestoft, in the Mermaid (28 guns), where he was assigned to the Duke of York's squadron. At the time of the Four Days Battle, Jasper Grant was operating off Ireland with the Sapphire. He was still assigned to Ireland during the St. James's Day Battle on 25 July 1666.

# posted by Jim : 7:04 PM  

Friday, April 22, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Nicolaas Verschuur

Nicolaas Verschuur served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was born at Arnhem on 4 November 1621 and killed at Stromboli on 8 January 1676. He was a commander in the Battle of Stromboli, where he was killed. He was appointed captain in 1670 and Schout-bij-Nacht in 1675. This is from my translation of the short piece in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek. The only things that I can add is that in 1671, he commanded the 60-gun ship Geloof and in 1675, he flew his flag on the 70-gun ship Spiegel.

# posted by Jim : 10:39 AM  

English Captain: Richard Blythe (or Blith)

There were actually two captains named Richard Blythe (Blith). The less prominent of the two, Richard Blythe, Jr., commanded the Mary Rose (38 guns) from 1642 to 1643, and then is not mentioned further. He was assigned to the Summer Guard for 1643. The more prominent was captain of the Leopard in 1641, in King Charles' navy. In 1642, he commanded the 2nd Rates Vanguard and Rainbow. In 1643, he was flag captain to the Earl of Warwick on the Prince Royal (70 guns). The Earl was admiral of the Summer Guard in 1643. From 1644 to 1645 (at least), Richard Blythe commanded the 2nd Rate James (50 guns). Powell credits him as being the Earl of Warwick's flag captain in 1644. The James was he Earl's flagship for the Summer Guard in 1644. In 1645, apparently the James was a private ship and was assigned to William Batten's squadron in the Summer Guard. Richard Blythe, Sr. is also listed as commanding hte James in the Summer Guard for 1646. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  2. J. R. Powell, The Navy in the English Civil War, 1962.

# posted by Jim : 6:13 AM  

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Jan (or Johan) Snellen

Jan Snellen was born in Breda on 12 May 1642. He died on 24 August 1691. He commanded in the Schooneveld battles and the Battle of the Texel in 1673. He sailed with the fleet that took Willem III to England in 1688. He fought in the Battle of Beachy Head (Bevesier) in 1690. He died in his sleep on board his ship in 1691. He served the Admiralty of the Maze. In 1673, he was appointed captain. On 7 August 1690, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. This is my translation of the entry in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek. In addition, he commanded the frigate Utrecht (34 guns) in 1673 in all the battles. In 1688, he commanded the 56-gun ship Delft.

# posted by Jim : 5:57 AM  

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Philips van Almonde

Philips van Almonde was born in Brielle on 29 December 1644. He died at Oegstgeest on 8 January 1711. He commanded in the battles of Bornholm and Oland in 1676 at Cape La Hogue in 1692, at Camaret in 1694, and the action at Vigo Bay in 1702. The Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam) appointed him lieutenant in 1664. By 1665, he was promoted to captain-lieutenant. In 1666, he was an extraordinary captain and by 1667 was a full captain. On 6 October 1672, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. In the 1680's and 1690's, he was employed by the Admiralty of Amsterdam. They appointed him Vice-Admiral on 5 April 1684. On 28 March 1692, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Admiral. On 20 December 1708, he was appointed as Lieutenant-Admiral by the Admiralty of the Maze. This is from my translation of the Luc Eekhout's piece in Het Admiralenboek.

# posted by Jim : 6:19 AM  

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

The Dutch fleet in 1685

The Dutch fleet in 1685 nominally consisted of the following strength:
  1. 10 ships of 80-94 guns
  2. 18 ships of 70-76 guns
  3. 14 ships of 60-68 guns
  4. 8 ships of 50-52 guns
  5. 32 frigates of 16-44 guns
This is from an appendix to J. C. De Jonge's Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.

# posted by Jim : 6:03 AM  

Monday, April 18, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: David Vlugh

David Vlugh was born in 1611, perhaps in Enkhuizen. He was killed on 7 June 1673. He served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He was a merchant captain in 1658. He commanded in the Four Days and St. James's Day Battles in 1666. He also commanded in the Raid on Chatham in 1667. He fought in the Battle of Solebay in 1672 and was killed in the First Schooneveld Battle in 1673. In 1639, he was appointed lieutenant. In 1665, he was promoted to captain. On 24 August 1666, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. This is from my translation of the piece in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek.

# posted by Jim : 6:16 AM  

Sunday, April 17, 2005

English Captain: Robert Coleman

Robert Coleman served in the Commonwealth Navy. In 1650 to 1651, he commanded the Fortune of London, a vessel of 200 tons that carried 20 guns and had a crew of 80 men. Andrew pointed this out to me and I found one of the entries in the House of Commons Journal, Vol.VI. In 1653, he commanded the hired merchantman Globe (30 guns). He fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, where he was assigned to Lionel Lane's division. Presumably, he fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, as well. Apparently, in December 1653, he commanded the Dutch prize Arms of Holland (ex-Wapen van Holland) and was engaged in convoying colliers. From 1655 to 1656, he commanded the Wexford. From later in 1656 until 1658, he commanded the 4th Rate Elizabeth. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

  2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.

  3. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.

  4. Journal of the House of Commons, Vol.6, for the date 29 May 1651.


# posted by Jim : 3:59 PM  

Dutch Admiral: Gerard Callenburgh

Gerard Callenburgh was born in Willemstad on 6 December 1642. He died at Vlaardingen on 8 October 1722. He was a member of the corporation of Vlaardingen from 1678-1711. He commanded in the battles of Beachy Head (1690) and La Hogue (1692) and at the capture of Gibraltar in 1704. He originally served the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam). He was a 2nd Lieutenant in 1666. He was promoted to lieutenant on 10 February 1671. On 15 March 1673, he was appointed as an extraordinary captain. On 13 February 1674, he was promoted to captain. He was appointed as Vice-Admiral on 16 April 1689 by the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. On 18 April 1692, he was appointed as Vice-Admiral by the Admiralty of the Maze. On 20 November 1697, he was appointed as Lieutenant-Admiral by the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. The Admiralty of Amsterdam appointed him as Lieutenant-Admiral on 14 February 1709. On 19 February 1711, he was appointed Lieutenant-Admiral by the Admiralty of the Maze. This is from my translation of the piece in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek.

# posted by Jim : 9:19 AM  

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Dutch Admiral: Hillebrandt Gerritszoon Quast

Hillebrandt Gerritszoon Quast was born in Enkhuizen about 1580. He died in Enkhuizen in December 1636. In his career, he fought the Dunkirkers and left the service due to having given criticisms. He served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He was promoted to captain in 1606. From 1619 to April 1620, he served as a temporary Vice-Admiral. On 29 March 1628, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral. He left the service in 1635 and died late the next year. His ship in the late 1620's was the 180 last Hollandsche Tuin. She had a crew of 85 men in 1628. His flagship as a Vice-Admiral was the Wapen van Nassau (38 guns with a crew of 100 sailors and 20 soldiers). His son-in-law was Lieven Corneliszoon de Zeeuw. He succeeded his father-in-law in command of the Wapen van Nassau. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1620-1700", 2004.
  2. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek, 1992.
  3. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

# posted by Jim : 1:35 PM  

Friday, April 15, 2005

English Captain: John Earle

In 1664, John Earle was lieutenant of the 2nd Rate Rainbow. In 1665, he was appointed as captain of the hired merchantman Loyal George. He commanded her from 7 February 1665 until 1 June 1666, when she was captured by the Dutch at the Four Days Battle. Previously, he had fought in the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was assigned to the Duke of York's division. John Earle was wounded in the Four Days Battle where he was assigned to Sir William Berkeley's divsion. Later in 1666, he was captain of the Nightingale. In 1668, he was appointed as captain of the Tiger. Sources:

  1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

  2. Frank Fox, "Hired Men-of-War, 1664-7", Part II, The Mariner's Mirror Vol.84 No.2 (May 1998).

  3. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.


# posted by Jim : 7:07 PM  

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Dutch naval officer: Jan Corneliszoon Meppel

Jan Corneliszoon Meppel was born in Hoorn in 1609. He died in Hoorn on 2 November 1669. He commanded in the Four Days and St. James's Day Battles in 1666. He also commanded in the Raid on Chatham in 1667. He served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He was appointed Vice-Admiral in 1659. On 29 January 1665, he was appointed Lieutenant-Admiral. This is from my translation of a piece in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek.

# posted by Jim : 6:21 AM  

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Dutch naval officer: jonkheer Philips van Dorp

Philips van Dorp was born in Tholen in 1587. He died in The Hague on 5 December 1652. He commanded the naval forces of the Republic from 1627 to 1629. He was dismissed in 1637 when the herring fleet was found to be insufficiently protected. He served in the council of the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam) from 1637 to 1652. He started his career in the service of the Admiralty of Zeeland. In 1621, he was appointed captain. On 16 October 1622, he was promoted to vice-admiral. On 11 June 1627, he was promoted to lieutenant-admiral. He was dismissed on 22 March 1629. On 6 May 1652, he was appointed as lieutenant-admiral of Holland and West-Friesland. On 15 October 1637, he was again dismissed from the service. I have seen him characterized as more of a politician than a naval officer, much like Joris Cats (or Catz). This is my translation of a piece in Luc Eekhout's Het Admiralenboek, with my further comments.

# posted by Jim : 6:20 AM  

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

English Captain: James Terry

James Terry served in the Commonwealth navy. From 1653 to 1654, he commanded the Great Charity (36 guns and a crew of 130 men) (the captured Amsterdam Directors' ship Groote Liefde). The Great Charity had been taken at the Battle of Portland, on the last day. In the December 1653 list, the Great Charity is said to have 44 guns and a crew of 180 men. The Great Charity was lying at Portsmouth at that time. Later in 1654, he commanded the Jersey. In 1655, he commanded the captured VOC ship Indian (ex-Roos). He was with William Penn's fleet dispatched to the Caribbean. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
  3. Michael Baumber, General-at-Sea, 1989.
  4. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.

# posted by Jim : 6:11 AM  

Monday, April 11, 2005

Luc Eekhout has a small bio of Lieven de Zeeuw

Under the year 1639, Luc Eekhout has a small bio piece about Lieven de Zeeuw. I have seen his first name written in a number of ways, including in handwriting from 1628 or 1629. Lieven de Zeeuw served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He took part in the Battle of the Downs in 1639. He was also on the abortive expedition to Brazil, under the command of Witte de With from 1647 to 1650. In 1639, he was appointed as a temporary Schout-bij-Nacht. This is from Luc Eekhout's book Het Admiralenboek. As I have previously written, we know he was in company with Maarten Tromp on 10 July 1639. This is a link to the longer piece that I had written about Lieven de Zeeuw.

# posted by Jim : 10:45 AM  

English Captain: Eustace Smith

Eustace Smith served in both the Parliamentarian and Commonwealth navies. In 1644, he commanded the Hart frigate, a hired merchantman. In 1647, he commanded the John Adventure hired merchantman, when she was held in reserve. From 1652 to 1654, he commanded the Richard and Martha (40 guns) hired merchantman. The Richard and Martha was one of the more effective hired merchantmen, so he was present at many battles. He fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock, in September 1652. In early 1653, he fought in the Battle of Portland. In June, he fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, where his ship carried 46 guns. He very likely fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, as well. From 1656 to 1657, he commanded the Lyme. He was with Robert Blake, during operations near Spain. Eustace Smith led an attack on Malaga Roads in June. Michael Baumber says that "The Lyme commanded by Eustace Smith , did particularly good work" in the attack on Teneriffe. Later in 1657, he commanded the 2nd Rate Rainbow. In 1658, he commanded the 3rd Rate Gloucester. In 1659, he commanded the 3rd Rate Speaker. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
  2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  3. Michael Baumber, General-at-Sea, 1989.

# posted by Jim : 6:06 AM  

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Gerrit van der Dussen

Luc Eekhout has just a short bio of Gerrit (Gerard) van der Dussen. Gerrit van der Dussen was born in Schiedam on 10 November 1636. He lived until 17 July 1711. He was a commander in the expedition to take William III to England in 1688. He served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was promoted to extraordinary captain in 1675. In 1687, he was promoted to captain. He was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht on 26 September 1703. He became a Vice-Admiral on 22 March 1709. This is based on Luc Eekhout's book Het Admiralenboek.

# posted by Jim : 6:06 AM  

Saturday, April 09, 2005

English Captain: Bartholomew Yates

Bartholomew Yates served in the Commonwealth navy. In 1650, he commanded the William ketch. In 1653, he commanded the Falcon Flyboat (28 guns and a crew of 80 men), a Dutch prize. In December 1653, he was assigned to the Winter Guard, lying in the "Ellence Roads" (the way that it was transcribed in The First Dutch War, Vol.VI). Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.

  2. R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966.

  3. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.


# posted by Jim : 2:53 PM  

Friday, April 08, 2005

Jan Gerritszoon van Muijs

Jan Gerritszoon van Muijs served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He was born in Hoorn on 17 April 1636. He lived until about 1699. He commanded in the Battle of the Texel in 1673, and the operation to take William III to England in 1688. He also fought in the Battles of La Hougue in 1692 and Camaret in 1694. In 1667, he was promoted to Kapitein-ter-Zee. On 26 October 1691, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. This is from Luc Eekhout's book Het Admiralenboek.

# posted by Jim : 10:35 AM  

English Captain: Jean Baptiste Du Tiel

Jean Baptiste Du Tiel was a Frenchman serving in the English navy. In 1665, he was captain of the prize Fountain (30 guns) and fought in the Battle of Lowestoft. He was assigned to the Duke of York's division. Later in 1665, he commanded the Jersey. In 1671, he was appointed to command a galley in the Mediterranean Sea, although Frank Fox says that he commanded the Jersey. Frank Fox says that Jean Baptiste Du Tiel took part in an action with the Algerines off Cape Spartel in 1670, and did so badly that he was dismissed from the service. Previously, he had been dismissed after fighting in the Four Days Battle. If he had not had the Duke of York as a patron, things could have gone very badly for him, such as being hung. He was relieved as captain of the Jersey by Francis Digby. Sources:

  1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

  2. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.


# posted by Jim : 3:38 AM  

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Jonkheer Joris van Catz

Joris van Catz served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was born about 1590 and died about 1653. He was a nobleman from Coulster. He commanded in the Battle of the Downs in 1639 and in the expedition in the Sound from 1644 to 1645. He was dismissed from the service due to his arrogant actions as commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean Sea in 1652. The Duke of Tuscany was angered by his actions so he was replaced by Johan van Galen. He was promoted to captain in 1621. He served as a temporary Schout-bij-Nacht from 9 June 1645 to 2 December 1645. On 17 April 1647, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. On 25 August 1652, he was dismissed from the service. This is my translation of what Luc Eekhout wrote, with some additions.

# posted by Jim : 10:16 AM  

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Abraham van der Hulst

This is what Luc Eekhout had to say about Abraham van der Hulst. He was born in Amsterdam on 11 April 1619. He fought in the Battle of Scheveningen in 1653 (as well as other battles in the First Anglo-Dutch War). He also fought at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665. He was killed in the Four Days Battle on 12 June 1666. He was hit by a musket shot. He served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1650, he was appointed Kapitein-ter-Zee extra-ordinarie. In 1653, he was promoted to Kapitein-ter-Zee. On 25 July 1665, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral.

# posted by Jim : 6:17 AM  

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

English Captain: William Coleman

William Coleman served in the Restoration navy. William Coleman was second lieutenant on the 1st Rate Sovereign in 1665. Later in 1665, he was first lieutenant on the 3rd Rate Mary. In 1666, he was appointed captain of the 4th Rate Guinea. While at Tagus, a Frenchman boasted that he would attack and beat Coleman in the Guinea. It proved an idle boast, and Coleman took two prizes, which he burnt rather than risk being undermanned. Later in 1666, Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed him captain of the Hampshire. In 1668, he became captain of the 4th Rate Centurion. In 1669, he commanded first the 3rd Rate Princess and then the Portsmouth. In 1672, he commanded the 3rd Rate Gloucester (58 guns). He fought in the Battle of Solebay in the Gloucester, where he was assigned to Sir John Kempthorne's division. In May, before the fleet action, Coleman succeeded in escaping 30 Dutch ships, due to his skill and resourcefullness. In 1673, Prince Rupert appointed him to command the 3rd Rate Edgar. Later, on 26 March 1678, the King reappointed him to command the Edgar. Sources:

  1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.

  2. Julian S. Corbett, “A Note on the Drawings in the Possession of The Earl of Dartmouth Illustrating The Battle of Solebay May 28, 1672 and The Battle of the Texel August 11, 1673”, 1908.

  3. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.


# posted by Jim : 6:46 PM  

Dutch Captain: Jacob Corneliszoon de Boer

Jacob Corneliszoon de Boer served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He was born about 1600, possibly in Enkhuizen and died on 22 August 1655, also in Enkhuizen. He fought in the Battles of Monte Christo in 1652 and Livorno in 1653. He was appointed captain in 1639. In 1652, he was promoted to temporary Schout-bij-Nacht. On 11 November 1653, he was appointed as a permanent Schout-bij-Nacht. Source:

  1. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De Vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992.


# posted by Jim : 3:29 AM  

Monday, April 04, 2005

English Captain: Leonard Harris

Leonard Harris served in the Parliamentarian and Commonwealth navies. In 1642, he commanded the hired merchantman Paragon. In 1648, he commanded the 3rd Rate Swallow, which went over to the Royalists. From 1653 to 1654, he commanded the Little Charity. That was apparently after the Battle of Scheveningen, as a different captain commanded the Little Charity at that battle (William Whitehorne). William Laird Clowes lists the ship as being the Great Charity (36 guns and a crew of 150 men), and places him with William Penn's expedition to the West Indies that sailed on Christmas Day of 1654. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
  2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  3. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.

# posted by Jim : 6:18 AM  

Sunday, April 03, 2005

The two English captains named John Bowen

What must have been the elder John Bowen served in the Parliamentarian navy. In 1642, he commanded the 3rd Rate Antelope. In 1643, he commanded the Entrance. In 1644, he was moved to the Dreadnought (which was in the last stages of its service life). In 1645, he commanded the 3rd Rate Leopard. In 1646, he commanded the 3rd Rate Garland. In 1647, moved to the 3rd Rate Entrance. Finally, in 1648, he commanded the 4th Rate Phoenix. During this time, the younger John Bowen commanded the Hart from 1646 to 1648. In 1648, he commanded first the Weymouth and then the Recovery. In 1649, he commanded the Hind. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966.


# posted by Jim : 3:57 PM  

Aert Janszoon van Nes

Aert van Nes went to sea in 1637. He was born in Rotterdam in 1626 and lived until 14 September 1693. He commanded the 26-gun ship Gelderland in 1652. At the Battle of the Sound in 1658, he commanded the Wapen van Rotterdam (40 guns). He was a flag officer in the Four Days Battle and St. James's Day Battle in 1666. He took part in the Raid on Chatham in 1667, the Battle of Solebay in 1672, the two Schooneveld battles and the Battle of the Texel in 1673. His nickname was the Jonge Boer Jaap. He was promoted to captain on 23 August 1652, and to Schout-bij-Nacht on 3 March 1662, Vice-Admiral on 29 January 1665, and lieutenant-admiral on 24 February 1666. He served until April 1693. I have augmented what Luc Eekhout listed about Aert van Nes.

# posted by Jim : 10:11 AM  

Saturday, April 02, 2005

A short bio of Maarten Harpertsz. Tromp

Luc Eekhout has a short piece on Maarten Tromp, along with a portrait that I had not seen previously. Like Witte de With, Maarten Tromp was born in Brielle. He was born on 24 April 1598. He was killed in action by an English sharpshooter at the Battle of Scheveningen. He served in the merchant service from 1610 to 1612, as a boy. He was a ship carpenter from 1612 to 1616, and he commanded in the Battles off Dunkirk and at the Downs in 1639. After the death of William II, he was reduced in rank, but it was restored in 1651. He commanded in the Battles of Dover, Dungeness, Portland, the Gabbard, and Scheveningen. In the last battle, he was mortally wounded and died. He had been promoted to Lieutenant-Admiral on 27 October 1637 and again on 28 September 1651.

# posted by Jim : 9:51 AM  

Friday, April 01, 2005

Dutch Captain: Pieter Salomonszoon

Pieter Salomonszoon (Salomons) served in the First and Second Anglo-Dutch Wars. He had previously served in the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie prior to 1652. He commanded one of their ships in the first war, the Vrede (40 guns). Luc Eekhout says that he fought in the original battle off Dover in May 1652, then at Plymouth, the Battle of the Kentish Knock, Dungeness, the Battle of Portland, and the Battle of Scheveningen. In the second war, he fought in the Battle of Lowestoft and the Four Days Battle, where he was killed. In 1652 he had been an extraordinary captain, in 1654, a captain, and then in 1665, a temporary Schout-bij-Nacht. Source:
  1. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992.

# posted by Jim : 6:18 AM  

Contributors

BACK		 This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?
UP
 
 


COPYRIGHT 2000-2004 THE KENTISH KNOCK COMPANY