RUYTER (Michael Adrian), lieutenant-admiral of the United Provinces, was born at Flushing in 1607, and was the son of a burgher of that city. He frequented the sea from his being 11 years of age; and was successively a sailor, mate, captain of a vessel, commodore, rear-admiral, vice-admiral, and at length lieutenant-admiral-general, which is the highest dignity to which he could be raised, since that of admiral belongs only to the governor of Holland. He succeeded the Portuguese against the Spaniards; acquired great glory before Salé; engaged several times with the English; took many Turkish vessels, with the famous renegade Amand de Dias, whom he caused to be hanged in 1655. In 1659, he failed to the assistance of the king of Denmark against the Swedes, and gave proofs of uncommon bravery in the island of Funen. In 1661, he humbled the Algerine corsairs; took a great number of vessels in 1665; and obtained a remarkable victory over the English in 1666. These brave exploits occasioned his being the same year chosen lieutenant-admiral-general; and he continued to distinguish himself till the year 1676, when he was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball, in an engagement with the French, before the town of Augusta in Sicily, and died of his wounds a few days after. His body was carried to Amsterdam, where the States General erected a magnificent monument to his memory.