Second Anglo-Dutch War

The Second Anglo-Dutch War was fought between England and the United Provinces from 1665 to 1667.

Table of contents

1 Prelude 2 The War 3 Medway 4 Peace 5 Related topics 6 External links

Prelude

In April 1654 the First Anglo-Dutch War was concluded with a British victory despite the fact that peace was not signed for another eight months. With Admiral Tromp's death early in the final engagement during a fierce gale de With assumed the Dutch command, and although he fought bravely was obliged to retire beyond the proximity of the Dutch shoals, after which General Monck's fleet of 100 ships themselves struggling against the storm were commanded to haul off. Further skirmishes continued throughout 1664 leading to a declaration of war by the Dutch in January 1665. After incidents involving the English capture of Dutch trading posts and colonies in West Africa and North America - subsequently recaptured by the Dutch - the English declared war on the Netherlands on March 4, 1665. After the First Anglo-Dutch War the Dutch were better prepared, having extended their navy by ordering sixty new warships. The outbreak of war was followed ominously with the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. These events in such close succession virtually brought Britain to its knees. Administrative difficulties in the Navy continued whilst a fleet of 80 ships under General Monck, the Commonwealth veteran, (after, the Earl of Albemarle) set sail at the end of May 1665. Prince Rupert was detached with 20 of these ships to intercept a French squadron on the 29th May, known to be passing up English Channel to join the Dutch fleet. Leaving the Downs Albemarle came upon de Ruyter with a fleet of 85 ships at anchor, he immediately engaged the nearest Dutch ship before the rest of the fleet could come to its assistance. The Dutch set upon a starboard tack, taking the battle toward their own shoals, compelling Albemarle to turn about, so outflanked by the Dutch rear and centre culminating in a ferocious unremitting battle that raged until nightfall. At daylight on 2nd June, Albemarle's strength was reduced to 44 ships, but with these he renewed the battle tacking past the enemy four times in close action. With his fleet in to poor a condition to meet the challenge he retired towards the coast with the Dutch in pursuit. The following day Albemarle ordered the damaged ships forward covering their return until Prince Rupert returning with his 20 ships, joined him. Gradually they fought windward through the Dutch, at length managing to brake off the action.

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The War

\nThe first encounter between the nations was, as in the First Anglo-Dutch War, at sea. The war started with the Battle of Lowestoft, where the English gained a victory. The huge Four Days Battle 1666, one of the longest naval engagements in history, ended up in both sides claiming victory; Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter had retreated first, but he had also caused twice as many losses for the English as they had for the Dutch. After this, the English won several victories, but due to financial problems they were forced to reduce their operations. King Charles laid up his fleet and sued for peace. The Dutch however, enraged by the wanton destruction of over 400 merchant ships by the British during their raid on the Vlie estuary and the following sacking of the town of ter Schelling, decided to repay this insolence first.

Medway

\nIn June, 1667, de Ruyter launched the Dutch "Raid on the Medway" at the mouth of the River Thames. After capturing the fort at Sheerness, they went on to break through the massive chain protecting the entrance to the Medway and, on the 17th, attacked the English fleet which had been laid up at Chatham. The daring raid remains England's greatest military disaster since the Norman Conquest. Many of the Navy's remaining ships were destroyed, either by the Dutch or by being scuttled by the English to block the river. The English flagship, HMS Royal Charles, was abandoned by its skeleton crew, captured without a shot being fired, and towed back to the Netherlands. Its coat-of-arms is now on display in the Rijksmuseum. Fortunately for the English the raiders spared the Chatham Dockyard, England's largest industrial complex. The Dutch success had a major psychological impact throughout England, with London feeling especially vulnerable just a year after the Great Fire. This, together with the cost of the war, of the Great Plague and the extravagant spending of Charles II, meant that the English were keen to sign a peace treaty -- and so were the Dutch as they had to deal with a French invasion of the Spanish Netherlands at the same time.

Peace

\nOn July 31, 1667, the Treaty of Breda sealed peace between the two nations. The treaty allowed the English to keep the territory around New Amsterdam (the current New York), the Dutch received control over Suriname instead. The peace did not last long, with England joining France to attack the Netherlands in 1672 - the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

Related topics

\n*Anglo-Dutch Wars\n*History of England\n*British military history\n*History of the Netherlands

External links

\n*Painting of the Four Days Battle by Abraham Storck\n*De Ruyters' flagship 'The Seven Provinces' is being rebuilt in Dutch town Lelystad.\n*Very readable, detailed and illustrated account of the Raid at Medway (near Chatham). \nCategory:British wars