On This Day In History: Raid On The Medway Took Place – On June 19, 1667

AncientPages.com - On June 19, 1667,  the Dutch navy executed the bravest raid in its maritime history.

English troops assembled at the town of Rochester on the River Medway after news reached London that a Dutch fleet commanded by Michiel de Ruyter was heading towards the naval dockyards at Chatham.

The burning of the English fleet off Chatham, 20 June 1667, likely by Willem van de Velde the Younger. Manner of Willem van de Velde the Younger - www.rijksmuseum.nl - Public Domain

There was little, however, that they could do.

Legendary Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter led his fleet up the Medway and destroyed the English fleet.
As many as 13 British ships were destroyed, and two others were captured.

The largest, the English flagship HMS Royal Charles, was abandoned by its skeleton crew, captured without a shot being fired, and towed back to the Netherlands as a trophy.

Total losses for the Dutch were eight spent fireships and about fifty casualties. In the Republic, the populace was jubilant after the victory; many festivities were held, repeated when the fleet returned in October, and many admirals were considered heroes.

This raid is considered one of the worst in the history of the British Navy.

Samuel Pepys, a secretary of the Navy Board, wrote in his diary that "the Dutch fleet is in great squadrons everywhere still about Harwich and were lately at Portsmouth, and the last letters say at Plymouth, and now gone to Dartmouth to destroy our Streights' fleet lately got in thither; but God knows whether they can do it any hurt, or no, but it was pretty news come the other day so fast, of the Dutch fleets being in so many places, that Sir W. Batten at table cried, By God, says he, I think the Devil shits Dutchmen."

And later, on July 29, 1667, he added: "Thus in all things, in wisdom, courage, force, knowledge of our own streams, and success, the Dutch have the best of us, and do end the war with victory on their side."

Later, the Royal Navy renewed its strength and, from the late 17th century to the 20th century, was the most powerful navy in the world.

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