Maarten Harpertsz Tromp. Studio of M.J. van Miereveld, after an original of 1640. Admiral Maarten Harpertsz Tromp (1598-1653) was born into a seafaring family. In 1607, at the age of nine, he was on board his father's ship at the Battle of Gibraltar, fighting the Spanish fleet. He was to rise to the highest rank in the navy. In 1639 he inflicted a crucial defeat on Spain at the Battle of the Downs off the southeast coast of England. In 1652 Tromp was given command of the Dutch navy. That year, four years after peace had been signed with Spain, tension with England eventually led to war. Tromp was killed in 1653 in the Battle of Ter Heijde off the coast of South Holland which was won by the English.