Dutch Captain: Michiel Franszoon van den Bergh

Captain Michiel Franszoon van den Bergh served the Admiralty of Rotterdam. In early 1652, he commanded the Rotterdam ship Gelderland (40 guns) in the Mediterranean Sea. He spent most of the First Anglo-Dutch War in the Mediterranean Sea, but did not participate in the big battles. His ship had been built in 1634 and was one of the ships that were 250 lasts. The dimensions in Amsterdam feet were about 128.5ft x 30.5ft x 13.5ft. I say "about", as these are converted from Maas feet. His ship had been commissioned in 1651, apparently as one of the 36 cruisers that were activated in preparation for possible war with England. Captain van den Bergh returned from the Mediterranean with ships commanded by Cornelis Tromp in early November 1653. In 1656, he took part in the operation to blockade Danzig, under the command of Lt.-Admiral van Wassenaer. In this operation, Captain van den Bergh commanded the fairly new ship Prins Maurits (built in 1653). This ship was about 300 lasts (134ft x 33ft x 13.5ft) and carried 42 guns.