Adriaen Banckert Adriaen van Trappen Banckert ( c . 1615 – 22 April 1684 ) was a Dutch admiral . In English literature he is sometimes known as " Banckers " . His first name is often rendered in the modern spelling " Adriaan " . " Van Trappen " was the original family name , but the family was also and better known under the name of " Banckert " . In the 17th century Netherlands such a situation was solved by combining the two names . He was born , probably in Vlissingen ( then Flushing ) , somewhere between 1615 and 1620 as the second and middle son of Rear - Admiral Joost van Trappen Banckert and Adriana Jansen . Both his brothers were navy captains , serving the Admiralty of Zealand , also . Adriaen started his career on the ship of his father , fighting the Dunkirkers . In 1639 , at the Battle of the Downs , Adriaen was master on that ship . In 1642 he became a captain himself . During the First Anglo - Dutch War Adriaen was flagcaptain of the Zealandic Vice - Admiral Johan Evertsen on the " Hollandia " . In the Battle of Portland in 1653 his elder brother Joost was killed ; he himself was taken prisoner the same year when his ship foundered during the Battle of Scheveningen . During the Northern Wars he fought in 1658 against the Swedish fleet in the Battle of the Sound as captain of the " Seeridder " and subcommander of the squadron of Vice - Admiral Witte de With . Though the battle was a Dutch victory , Adriaen because of adverse currents failed to assist De With when the " Brederode " was grounded and surrounded . De With was fatally wounded . During the winter campaign of 1659 , the " Seeridder " lost all her anchors by a storm , grounded and then was frozen solid near Hven . The Swedish army tried to exploit this situation by sending a company of soldiers over the ice to destroy the ship , but Banckert beat off all attacks for three days , until he could work his ship free . Banckert was granted a special audience by Frederick III of Denmark who personally thanked him for the courage shown . The Admiralty of Zealand honoured him with a golden chain worth a hundred golden dollars . When in 1664 the Second Anglo - Dutch War threatened , the five Dutch admiralties appointed many new flag officers . Banckert was made Rear - Admiral of the Zealandic admiralty on 16 December 1664 and soon after temporary Vice - Admiral . After the Battle of Lowestoft in which his younger brother Johan was killed , he was appointed Vice - Admiral on 15 July 1665 . In 1666 he participated in the Four Days Battle ; in the St James ' Day Battle his ship the " Thoolen " sank and he was forced to move his flag to the " Ter Veere " . He managed to cover the retreat of the Dutch fleet on the second day of the battle . In that fight Zealandic Lieutenant - Admiral Johan Evertsen was killed and Banckert was appointed as Lieutenant - Admiral of Zealand on 5 September 1666 , and thus held the highest navy rank of that province . In 1667 because of recruiting problems , Banckert was too late with his squadron to participate in the actual Raid on the Medway . In the four naval battles of the Third Anglo - Dutch War Banckert played an important role , especially by fighting the French squadron within the combined Anglo - French fleet . At the Battle of Solebay Banckert managed to lure away the French fleet allowing the main Dutch force under Lieutenant - Admiral Michiel de Ruyter to attack the English fleet with some parity . In the first action of the double Battle of Schooneveld the French fleet broke formation to attack Banckert ' s squadron , which allowed Lieutenant - Admiral - General De Ruyter to split the French squadron and outmanoeuvre the allies . In the second action Banckert ' s attack drove the French away . In the Battle of Texel Banckert managed to prevent a joining of the French and English fleet , again allowing De Ruyter to fight the English with more equal forces . Because of the crucial part he played in these battles Banckert ' s fame among the French and English was assured ; ironically in The Netherlands his importance wasn ' t understood by the larger part of the population , also because most writers were Hollandic and felt little inclination to honour a Zealandic hero . In 1674 , he joined with Hollandic Lieutenant - Admirals Cornelis Tromp and Aert Jansse van Nes in the expedition against the French coast , in which the island of Noirmoutier was taken and devastated . When Tromp took his squadron to join the Spanish , the command of the remainder of the Dutch fleet was given to Van Nes , although Banckert had seniority . Banckert didn ' t show his discontent with this situation to his friend Van Nes , but did express his offended feelings in a letter to the Zealandic admiralty . They shared his opinion and decided never again to send out their Lieutenant - Admiral in a confederate expedition , to make sure he wouldn ' t be humiliated by the Hollanders . This way Banckert left active service on 3 December 1674 , though remaining commander of the Zealandic fleet . In 1678 he joined the admiralty council , which was exceptional for a navy officer . He died in Middelburg , where he was buried in St Peter ' s Church .