Tromp
MARTEN HARPERTZOON, VAN, a Dutch naval officer; born in Briel, Holland, in 1597. He began to serve under his father in the navy at 10 years of age, gradually rose to distinction, and in 1637 attained the rank of lieutenant-admiral; in which capacity he served against the Spaniards, and captured many of their ships. In October, 1639, he won a great victory over the Spanish fleet and captured 13 galleons.
He was engaged in the naval campaigns of 1640 and 1641; but his courage and abilities were most strikingly displayed in the war with England in 1652-1653.
He had Robert Blake for his adversary, and was defeated off Dover in March, 1652. In November following, he, in his turn, defeated Blake, and sailed up the English Channel with a broom at his masthead. Another engagement took place in the channel, in February, 1653, when the Dutch lost many of their ships, but Tromp succeeded in saving the 300 merchant ships he was convoying. After commanding in several other against the English, this great seaman fell in the engagement with Monk, off the coast of Holland, Aug. 8, 1653. His son, CORNELLUS VAN TROMP, born in Rotterdam, Holland, Sept. 9, 1629, rose also to eminence as a naval commander and, on De Ruyter's death, was appointed lieutenant-admiral-general of the United Provinces. He died in Amsterdam, May 29, 1691. another battles