Dutch Captain: Sijbrandt Barendszoon Waterdrincker

Sijbrandt Barendszoon Waterdrincker served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He had been a captain for the Admiralty of Amsterdam since 1635, but we suspect that he had begun his career earlier than that date. He had been recommended by the States Generaal in 1633, and by the Prince on March 31, 1633. In 1635, he commanded the 23-gun ship Edam. On 2 April 1637, he took command of the newly built 28-gun ship Bommel. Tromp referred to him as the young captain Waterdrincker, as his father or older brother was still serving. He was on the expeditions to the Sound in 1644 and 1645. In 1648, he was commander of a squadron operating on the Spanish coast. Sijbrandt Waterdrincker seemed to have a good future, but he came to a bad end in a drunken fight. On board the ship of the Vice-Admiral, he and his lieutenant Floris Janszoon Cat were having dinner. They quarreled and Sijbrandt Waterdrincker stabbed his lieutenant, fatally wounding him. The lieutenant had enough strenght left to remove the knife and stab Sijibrandt Waterdrincker. They both died and were buried at Cadiz. This is mostly based on my translation of the short biographical sketch in Dr. De Boer's book, which is contradicted by the entry in Luc Eekhout's book. He writes that Sijbrandt Barendszoon Waterdrincker drowned in 1652, when his ship foundered off of Westcappelle. Dr. De Boer's story is good entertainment, but is it correct? Luc Eekhout also writes that Sijibrandt Barendszoon Waterdrincker served the Admiralty of the Maze, was a captain in 1624 and a Scout-bij-Nacht in 1644. Are they different men with the same name? Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.

2. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.

3. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De Vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992.