Raid on Newfoundland (1665) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Newfoundland (1665)
Part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War
Present day St. John
Date June, 1665 Location St. John Result Dutch Victory St. John captured
Belligerents
Dutch Republic	England Newfoundland
Commanders and leaders
Michiel de Ruyter	Christopher Martin
Strength
20 ships	Fortifications and defences of St. John, and a coalition of planters and migratory fishermen
Casualties and losses
none	all ships taken, castle, and houses destroyed, and goods, canons, and guns taken

In June 1665, a big war started between the Dutch and the English. It was called the Second Anglo-Dutch War. During this war, a famous Dutch admiral named Michiel de Ruyter led a fleet of ships to Newfoundland. They attacked the English colony there, causing a lot of damage. This event is known as the Raid on Newfoundland.

Why the Raid Happened

Before heading to Newfoundland, Admiral Michiel de Ruyter had been on a long journey. He first sailed to the Barbary Coast in North Africa. His mission there was to deal with pirates and free people who had been captured.

After that, he received secret orders from the Dutch government. These orders told him to take back some forts in West Africa that the English had captured. He was also told to attack English colonies in the Americas. This was all part of the ongoing war between the two countries.

The Attack on Newfoundland

After successfully taking back the forts in West Africa, Admiral de Ruyter set sail for Newfoundland. When his fleet arrived at St. John's, they faced a challenge. A huge cable had been stretched across the narrow entrance to the harbor to block ships.

De Ruyter split his fleet into three groups. One group went to "Bay of Bulls," another went to "Pretty Harbour," and he led the main group to St. John's Bay.

Capturing Ships and Supplies

In Pretty Harbour, the Dutch ships quickly captured two English ships. These ships were full of valuable goods like salt, oil, and wine. In St. John's Bay, de Ruyter's group captured an English warship called a frigate and a cargo ship called a fluyt.

The Dutch stayed in the area for a while, capturing many more English ships. These vessels were loaded with food supplies such as bread, meat, peas, and a lot of fish. Newfoundland was known for its rich fishing grounds, so there was plenty of fish available.

Dealing with Prisoners

After capturing so many ships, Admiral de Ruyter found himself with about 300 English prisoners. He worried that having so many prisoners on his ships could be risky. To prevent any trouble, he decided to release some of them on the island.

The raid wasn't just focused on St. John's. De Ruyter's fleet sailed along the coast, attacking several other ports in the colony. This caused significant damage to the English settlements and their fishing operations in Newfoundland.