On this day 25 April - Battle of Gibraltar 1607

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On the 25th of April 1607, the Dutch defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Gibraltar. Under the command of Jacob van Heemskerk, a fleet of 26 ships attacked a Spanish fleet of 21 vessels under the command of Don Juan Álvarez de Ávila. While attacking the Spanish flagship San Augustin, under the command of Álvarez de Ávila’s son, van Heemskerk lost a leg to a cannon ball, and subsequently died. The Dutch defeated the Spaniards by doubling up on the galleons, several of which caught fire and one exploded. At the close of the battle, the Dutch dispatched boats, killing hundreds of Spanish sailors who were in the water.

Jacob van Heemskerk:



The Battle:






For today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gibraltar_(1607)

Here's an interesting read on today's event:
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4879/pg4879.html