Witte Corneliszoon de With (28 March 1599-8 November 1658) was a Dutch admiral who fought in the Dutch Revolt and the Anglo-Dutch Wars. He was known for his insubordination and his rivalries with his fellow commanders, especially Maarten Tromp.
Biography[]
Witte Corneliszoon de With was born in Brielle, United Provinces in 1599; he was childhood rivals with Maarten Tromp. He became a sailor in 1616, sailing on trade voyages to the Dutch East Indies and India before participating in an expedition against the Barbary pirates in 1620. He became a captain in 1622 and attacked Spanish shipping and settlements on the west coast of the Americas in 1624 before sailing via the Mariana Islands to the East Indies. In 1626, as Vice Admiral of a spice fleet of four ships, he circumnavigated the globe on his way home. In 1628, he took part in Piet Heyn's seizure of the Spanish treasure fleet off Cuba, but he left the navy after being passed over for promotions. He returned to the navy in 1637, fighting alongside Tromp at the Battle of the Downs in 1639; he became jealous of Tromp's popularity and accused Johan Evertsen of cowardice and avarice. In 1647, he was sent to protect Dutch Brazil against the Portuguese, but his disagreements with the colonial authorities there led to him sailing back to the Netherlands in November 1649; he was court-martialed and nearly sentenced to death by beheading for insubordination and desertion. He was acquitted in 1651 and returned to convoy duty, and, in 1652, he took over Tromp's fleet and was defeated at the Battle of the Kentish Knock, leading to Tromp's recall. In 1658, he was shot through the leg and breast while battling the Swedish navy at the Battle of the Sound, and his body was embalmed and displayed by the Swedes at Elsinore before being sent to Copenhagen in January 1659.