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Ruyter, Michiel Adriaanszoon de 1607-76
Dutch naval commander

Born in Flushing, he became a captain in the Dutch navy. In the first Anglo-Dutch War (1652-54) he served with distinction under Cornelis Tromp against Robert Blake and George Monk, and in the second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-67) he defeated Monk in the Four Days' Battle off Dunkirk (1666). In 1667 he sailed up the River Medway, burned some of the English ships, and next sailed up the River Thames, as well as attacking Harwich. In the war with France and England (1672-78) he attacked the French and English fleets in Solebay (28 May 1672), and defeated Prince Rupert and d'Estrées (1673), thus preventing an English invasion. In 1675 he sailed for the Mediterranean to help the Spaniards against the French, but was mortally wounded in a battle off Sicily.

Bibliography: Petrus J Blok, Life of Admiral de Ruyter (1933)