Tromp, Martin Harpertzoon, << trawmp, MAHR tihn HAHR puhrt sohn >> (1597-1653), was a Dutch naval officer. He has been called the Father of Naval Tactics. During his long career, he fought the fleets of Spain, Portugal, and England. He was born in Brielle, the Netherlands, near Rotterdam. At the age of 8, he went to sea with his father, who was captain of a merchant ship. Tromp later joined the Dutch navy and finally rose to the rank of admiral. He was killed in a naval battle that his fleet lost to the English off Scheveningen.
