Jan van Brakel
Encyclopedia
Jan van Brakel was a Dutch
Rear Admiral
who distinguished himself on many occasions during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch wars and the Nine Years War. Almost nothing is known about Van Brakels early career; we know neither his year of birth (estimates have varied from 1618 till 1642) nor his backgrounds. It used to be thought that he was the son of Commodore
Pieter van Brakel, who was killed in the Second Anglo-Dutch War
while defending a convoy of merchant ships, but this has become very unlikely now that we know Pieter van Brakel was himself born in 1624.
The first time Van Brakel appears in the documents is in 1666 when he was appointed by the Admiralty of de Maze
(Rotterdam
) as acting captain
(with the rank of lieutenant) of a fireship, the Rotterdam, that participated in the Four Days Battle
. Apparently he already had been a lieutenant in 1665. Fireships were often manned by the most desperate elements in society; the humility of his origins might explain the fact they were never mentioned. At the St. James's Day Battle
, having spent another fireship and returning with his crew in sloops, he saved the Gelderland, the flagship of Lieutenant-Admiral Willem Joseph van Ghent
from an attack by an English fireship. Because of the courage shown he was on 22 September 1666 promoted captain of a regular ship, which was rare for a fireship commander. In 1667, while in command of the frigate Vrede, he became one of the heroes of the Raid on the Medway
and was given the honourable task of triumphantly towing the captured English
flagship
Royal Charles out of the Medway
River. The same year he was promoted full captain on 17 December.
In 1672 at the Battle of Solebay
(the first battle
of the Third Anglo-Dutch War
), van Brakel served as captain of the Groot Hollandia, and played a major part in the burning of the HMS Royal James. In 1673 he continued to fight with distinction at the battles of the Schooneveld
and Texel, as captain of the Voorzichtigheid.
On 5 April 1684 he was promoted to Rear Admiral for the Admiralty of Amsterdam
); four years later he, as a temporary Vice-Admiral (from October 1688 till January 1689), was part of the fleet that brought William III
to England in the invasion that led to the Glorious Revolution
. From 1688 forward he served on the amalgamated Anglo-Dutch fleet until he was killed in the Battle of Beachy Head
. His grave
memorial is in the St. Laurens Church in Rotterdam.
The Hr.Ms. Jan van Brakel was a Dutch naval vessel (frigate) named after him.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
who distinguished himself on many occasions during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch wars and the Nine Years War. Almost nothing is known about Van Brakels early career; we know neither his year of birth (estimates have varied from 1618 till 1642) nor his backgrounds. It used to be thought that he was the son of Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Pieter van Brakel, who was killed in the Second Anglo-Dutch War
Second Anglo-Dutch War
The Second Anglo–Dutch War was part of a series of four Anglo–Dutch Wars fought between the English and the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries for control over the seas and trade routes....
while defending a convoy of merchant ships, but this has become very unlikely now that we know Pieter van Brakel was himself born in 1624.
The first time Van Brakel appears in the documents is in 1666 when he was appointed by the Admiralty of de Maze
Admiralty of Rotterdam
The Admiralty of Rotterdam, also called the Admiralty of de Maze, was one of the five Admiralties in the Dutch Republic.-History:It was set up in 1574 during the Dutch Revolt, when William I of Orange's supporters decided to pool their naval resources at Rotterdam...
(Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
) as acting captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
(with the rank of lieutenant) of a fireship, the Rotterdam, that participated in the Four Days Battle
Four Days Battle
The Four Days Battle was a naval battle of the Second Anglo–Dutch War. Fought from 1 June to 4 June 1666 in the Julian or Old Style calendar then used in England off the Flemish and English coast, it remains one of the longest naval engagements in history.In June 1665 the English had soundly...
. Apparently he already had been a lieutenant in 1665. Fireships were often manned by the most desperate elements in society; the humility of his origins might explain the fact they were never mentioned. At the St. James's Day Battle
St. James's Day Battle
The naval St James' Day Battle , the Battle of the North Foreland and the Battle of Orfordness) took place on 25 July 1666 — St James' day in the Julian calendar then in use in England , during the Second Anglo-Dutch War and was fought between fleets of England, commanded jointly by...
, having spent another fireship and returning with his crew in sloops, he saved the Gelderland, the flagship of Lieutenant-Admiral Willem Joseph van Ghent
Willem Joseph van Ghent
Willem Joseph baron van Ghent tot Drakenburgh was a 17th-century Dutch admiral. His surname is also sometimes rendered Gendt or Gent.-Early career:...
from an attack by an English fireship. Because of the courage shown he was on 22 September 1666 promoted captain of a regular ship, which was rare for a fireship commander. In 1667, while in command of the frigate Vrede, he became one of the heroes of the Raid on the Medway
Raid on the Medway
The Raid on the Medway, sometimes called the Battle of the Medway, Raid on Chatham or the Battle of Chatham, was a successful Dutch attack on the largest English naval ships, laid up in the dockyards of their main naval base Chatham, that took place in June 1667 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War...
and was given the honourable task of triumphantly towing the captured English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
Royal Charles out of the Medway
Medway
Medway is a conurbation and unitary authority in South East England. The Unitary Authority was formed in 1998 when the City of Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with Gillingham Borough Council and part of Kent County Council to form Medway Council, a unitary authority independent of Kent County...
River. The same year he was promoted full captain on 17 December.
In 1672 at the Battle of Solebay
Battle of Solebay
The naval Battle of Solebay took place on 28 May Old Style, 7 June New Style 1672 and was the first naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War.-The battle:...
(the first battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
of the Third Anglo-Dutch War
Third Anglo-Dutch War
The Third Anglo–Dutch War or Third Dutch War was a military conflict between England and the Dutch Republic lasting from 1672 to 1674. It was part of the larger Franco-Dutch War...
), van Brakel served as captain of the Groot Hollandia, and played a major part in the burning of the HMS Royal James. In 1673 he continued to fight with distinction at the battles of the Schooneveld
Battle of Schooneveld
The Battles of Schooneveld were two naval battles of the Franco-Dutch War, fought off the coast of the Netherlands on 7 June and 14 June 1673 between an allied Anglo-French fleet commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, and the fleet of the United Provinces, commanded by Michiel de Ruyter.The...
and Texel, as captain of the Voorzichtigheid.
On 5 April 1684 he was promoted to Rear Admiral for the Admiralty of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
); four years later he, as a temporary Vice-Admiral (from October 1688 till January 1689), was part of the fleet that brought William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
to England in the invasion that led to the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
. From 1688 forward he served on the amalgamated Anglo-Dutch fleet until he was killed in the Battle of Beachy Head
Battle of Beachy Head (1690)
The Battle of Beachy Head was a naval engagement fought on 10 July 1690 during the Nine Years' War. The battle was the greatest French tactical naval victory over their English and Dutch opponents during the war...
. His grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
memorial is in the St. Laurens Church in Rotterdam.
The Hr.Ms. Jan van Brakel was a Dutch naval vessel (frigate) named after him.