Jacob Baron van Wassenaer, Lord of Obdam, by Abraham Westervelt, c. 1673. Born into an old Dutch noble family (1610-1665) Obdam began his career in the Republic's territorial army. This offered better prospects for aristocrats than the navy. Nevertheless, in1653 Obdam transferred to the fleet. He became lieutenant admiral on the death of Maarten Tromp. Obdam was killed at the start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) in the Battle of Lowestoft off England's east coast.