Abraham Crijnssen

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Abraham Crijnssen (died 1 February 1669) was a Dutch naval commander, notable for capturing the English colony in Suriname in 1667 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, resulting in the establishment of a long-term colony under Dutch control. The minesweeper HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen and the frigate HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen have been named after him.

Life

1632–1665

Crijnssen

In December 1666, Crijnssen received the command over a squadron, composed of the frigates Zeelandia, West-Cappelle and Zeeridder, and four smaller ships, including Prins te Paard. He was sent to the West Indies and the east coast of North America in an expedition against the English.

Crijnssen left

On 17 April Crijnssen had already left to liberated the Dutch colonies of Berbice, Essequibo and Pomeroon, but at arrival the learned that the English had already been expelled. He then sailed to Tobago and found the fort destroyed. After rebuilding it and leaving a garrison, he sailed on 4 May 4 to Sint Eustatius, which he reconquered. He then headed for Martinique where he joined forces with a French fleet to face a strong English force near the island of Nevis. He was forced to abort the battle, because of poor collaboration between Dutch and French.

Virginia

After this battle, Crijnssen sailed to Virginia, where he surprised in the mouth of the James River an English commercial fleet, ready to cross the ocean with a cargo of tobacco. During the Battle of The James River (1667) he captured the English escort warship, spread his men over 11 merchant ships, and burned the rest. He then sailed back to Vlissingen with his prizes, where he arrived on 25 August. Crijnssen received a hero's welcome and received a golden chain.

Suriname recaptured

In February 1668, Crijnssen was sent back to Suriname with three ships. Despite the fact that the Treaty of Breda (1667) had given Surinam to the Dutch, the English had retaken Fort Zeelandia (Fort Willoughby) in October 1667. Crijnssen arrived in Suriname on 20 April, and by 28 April the whole of Suriname was firmly back in Dutch hands. Crijnssen remained as acting governor of Suriname^[1] until his death on 1 February 1669.^[2] He was replaced by Philip Lichtenberg.^[1] The colony was to remain a Dutch possession until 1975.

References

Bibliography

• Benjamins, Herman Daniël; Snelleman, Johannes (1917). Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië (in Dutch). Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)