Johan Evertsen

Johan Evertsen (1 February 1600 – 5 August 1666) was a Dutch admiral during the 17th century. Evertsen and his five brothers started their career in the military by being given the rank of lieutenant after the death of their father, "Captain Jan." He quickly moved through the ranks through battles with corsairs and protecting Dutch ships from other privateers. Evertsen was eventually promoted to admiral during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. With Evertsen's successes and influence in the Dutch Navy, he was considered controversial due to him being known as a coward.

Born in Vlissingen, Johan was the eldest surviving son of Johan Evertsen, known as Captain Jan, who died in 1617 fighting near La Rochelle against a French corsair. As gratitude for his services rendered, all five sons of Captain Jan were named lieutenants by the Admiralty of Zeeland.

Johan is already at the age of 18 reported as captain of a ship. He fights near La Rochelle in 1625 under Willem de Zoete and in 1626 and 1627 in a campaign against the Barbary Coast under Laurens Reael.

Between 1628 and 1636, he distinguished himself while fighting the Dunkirk corsairs. His greatest successes were in 1628 preventing the interception by the Dunkirkers of the captured treasure fleet of Piet Heyn and in 1636 the capture of the famous corsair Jacob Collaert. He also played an important part in the Dutch victory in the Battle of the Slaak against the Spanish.

In 1637 he becomes Vice-Admiral and commands in 1639 a squadron in the Battle of the Downs in which he destroys the Portuguese Admiralship Santa Teresa, killing 800 of the 1000 men crew.

In the wake of this battle, he gets into conflict with Witte Corneliszoon de With, and doesn't receive any more important commands for the next years. In those years he develops a friendship with stadtholders Frederick Henry and William II.

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