Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest ( Vlissingen , 16 November 1642 – 16 November 1706 ) is a Dutch admiral from the 17th century . Biography . Cornelis was born in Vlissingen as the second son of Lieutenant - Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the Elder . He was a nephew of Lieutenant - Admiral Johan Evertsen and cousin of the latter ' s son Vice - Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the Younger , with whom he is very often confused . Cornelis was nicknamed " Keesje den Duvel " ( " Little Cornelis the Devil " ) for his cantankerous and hot - tempered character , which he shared with his father . Second Anglo - Dutch War . Already at the age of ten , in 1652 , Cornelis sailed on his father ' s ship . He became privateer in 1665 during the Second Anglo - Dutch War and was captured by the English on 15 April of that year when his force of two ships was defeated by three English vessels , among them the " Diamond " and the " Yarmouth " . His crew had to bodily restrain him to prevent him from blowing up his ship , the " Eendragt " of 32 cannon . Because of his famous father and uncle he was considered worthy of royal interest . During interrogation the brother of the king , " Lord High Admiral " James , the Duke of York , inquired about a bullet hole in the top of Cornelis ' s hat , asking the captain to excuse the English for having damaged his clothing . Cornelis grumpily answered that he was proud of the hole ; only he would have preferred it to have been a bit lower , to now being a prisoner . John Evelyn recounts how Cornelis was on 24 April 1665 released for his wit by Charles II of England in person : Cornelis having been admitted into the royal bedchamber , " His Majesty gave him his hand to kiss , and restored him his liberty ; asked many questions concerning the fight ( it being the first blood drawn ) , his Majesty remembering the many civilties he had formerly received from his relations abroad " — this was a reference to the support the Evertsen family had given Charles during his exile . Evelyn was then commanded " to go with him to the Holland Ambassador , where he was to stay for his passport , and I was to give him 50 pieces in broad gold " . Charles this way not only repaid old favours shown , but also tried to sow dissension between the staunchly orangist province of Zealand and the republican province of Holland ; he pretended to champion the cause of the young William III of Orange . After his return in 1665 Cornelis fought in the Battle of Lowestoft ; in July he became captain with the Admiralty of Zealand . In 1666 Cornelis was captain of his father ' s flagship " Walcheren " during the Four Days Battle . During the first night he witnessed his father ' s death , the Lieutenant - Admiral being cut in two by the parting shot of the escaping " Henry " . He also fought in the St . James ' s Day Battle where his uncle was killed . Third Anglo - Dutch War . In March 1672 , just before the Third Anglo - Dutch War , Cornelis repelled a treacherous English attack on the Smyrna fleet . In the Battle of Solebay he commanded the " Zwanenburg " ( 44 cannon ) . In 1673 , along with Jacob Binckes , he reconquered New Netherland , including New Amsterdam , as Vice - Admiral of a fleet in service of the Dutch West India Company , the " Swaenenburgh " still his flagship . When he returned in July 1674 , he was accused of disobedience , because the States of Zealand were not too happy with his conquest ; his real orders had been to conquer Saint Helena and Cayenne . Rear - Admiral of Zealand . In January 1675 Cornelis became Rear - Admiral of Zealand . In 1677 he commanded a blockade against the Dunkirkers . On 20 September 1679 he replaced his deceased cousin Cornelis the Younger as Vice - Admiral of Zealand ; he became on 1 April 1684 Lieutenant - Admiral of Zealand and supreme commander of the confederate Dutch fleet , replacing Cornelis Tromp . In 1688 he commanded the vanguard of the invasion fleet of stadtholder William III during the Glorious Revolution . In 1690 Cornelis was commander of the vanguard of the allied fleet in the Battle of Beachy Head . Poorly supported by the English , he had great difficulties against a much stronger French opponent ; he saved his squadron by tricking the French , by suddenly anchoring while under full sail , causing the enemy fleet to be carried away with the tidal stream . In that same year he was replaced as supreme commander by Tromp , who soon died and was replaced by Philips van Almonde . Cornelis , after 1690 never again commanding a fleet , died in 1706 and is buried in Middelburg . He was succeeded as Lieutenant - Admiral of Zealand by his younger brother Geleyn Evertsen . Personal life . Cornelis never married , nor is it known that he ever had a relationship with a woman . However , he was a very close friend of William III . It has been suggested he was one of the lovers of the stadtholder .