caption serviceyears death_date death_place birth_place allegiance awards birth_date placeofburial nickname image article_title birth_name
michiel de ruyter painted by ferdinand bol in 1667 1637 -- 1676 29 april 1676 bay of syracuse , near sicily vlissingen , zeeland , dutch republic dutch republic order of st michael 24 march 1607 nieuwe kerk , amsterdam '' bestevaêr '' bol , michiel de ruyter.jpg michiel de ruyter
 michiel adriaenszoon de ruyter
michiel de ruyter

michiel adriaenszoon de ruyter -lrb- ; 24 march 1607 -- 29 april 1676 -rrb- was a dutch admiral .
he is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in dutch history , most famous for his role in the anglo-dutch wars of the 17th century .
he fought the english and french and scored several major victories against them , the best known probably being the raid on the medway .
the pious de ruyter was very much loved by his sailors and soldiers ; from them his most significant nickname derived : `` bestevaêr '' -lrb- older dutch for ` grandfather ' . -rrb-
