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(Washington, D.C.: Brassey’s, 1994), 988–991.
Tromp, Cornelis Maartenszoon Van (1629–
1691) Dutch admiral
Cornelis Maartenszoon Van Tromp was born in Rotter-
dam, Holland, on 9 September 1629, the second son
of Maarten Harpertszoon tromP, also a famous Dutch
admiral. An anonymous history, printed in 1697, says
of him:
... I venture to Compose the History of one of
those Hero’s [sic], who without tarnishing the
glory of the others may be said to have been one
of the greatest and most Renowned Command-
ers that ever appeared on the Ocean, a Hero
whose very name was a terror to his Enemies;
That was descended of a Father who had been
present in above Fifty Sea Battles in which he
either Commanded in chief, or had at least one
of the principal Posts of Authority, whose good
Conduct and undaunted courage had much con-
tributed to make Holland one of the Richest and
most flourishing States of Europe; and who at
last after gaining so many Triumphs and Victo-
ries, died with Sword in hand for the advantage
of his Country; a Hero, in sine [sic], that always
followed the glorious foot steps of his Illustrious
Father, who was as much beloved by his own Sea-
men and peoples, as he was dreaded by his En-
emies, and who in a supreme degree possest [sic]
all the virtues [sic] of a great and accomplish’d
Captain.Little is known of Tromp’s early life, but in 1645,
when he was about 16, he served as an aide to his father
at sea, and four years later he became a full captain in
the Dutch navy. He then took part in a series of engage-
ments against pirates in the Mediterranean Sea, start-
ing in 1650, followed by the First Anglo-Dutch War
(1652–54) against England. In Italy, Tromp led Dutch
forces at the Battle of Leghorn (31 March 1653), when
six English ships under the command of Commodore
Henry Appleton were destroyed by the Dutch; Tromp’s
ship, the Maan, did not sustain any damage. Following
this victory, he was advanced to the rank of rear admiral.
He then went to fight the Algerian pirates off the coast
of northern Africa, and in 1655, after being named as a
commander of the Dutch fleet, he was sent to the Bal-
tic region, where the Dutch fought Sweden in the First
Northern War (1655–60) between Poland and Sweden.
With the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Dutch War
(1665–67), Tromp was recalled to fight for Holland.
Serving under his fellow Dutch commander, Admiral
Michiel de Ruyter, Tromp saw action in the major battles
of this conflict, most notably at Orfordness (25–26 July
1666). However, as historians Anthony Bruce and Wil-
liam Cogar note, “in this concluding battle Tromp oper-
ated independently without de Ruyter’s agreement, and
his failure to cooperate with his commander contributed
to the Dutch defeat.” Complaints from de Ruyter led
to Tromp’s unceremonious dismissal, and for nearly a
decade, he did not serve in any military function.
It was not until William III of Orange became
stadtholder of the Netherlands in 1672 that Tromp was
reinstated to a command with the outbreak of the Third
Anglo-Dutch War (1672–74). He played a leading role
in one of that conflict’s most important engagements,
the inconclusive Battle of the Texel (11 August 1673).
Reconciled with de Ruyter, Tromp fought by his side,
winning the battles of Schooneveld and Kijkduin, both
in 1673. The war ended with the Treaty of Westmin-tRomp, coRneliS mAARtenSzoon vAn