Roemer Vlacq (1637–1703)

Roemer Vlacq (August 1637 – 17 July 1703) was a Dutch States Navy officer who blew up his ship to keep it out of enemy hands.

In 1672, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, he commanded the frigate Postiljon during the Battle of Solebay under lieutenant admiral Michiel de Ruyter.

In 1692 Vlacq was suspended for insubordination, but was rehabilitated on 14 February 1696 by stadtholder William and re-entered service with the Admiralty of Amsterdam.

Vlacq was injured again during the War of the Spanish Succession when a fleet of 110 Dutch and British merchant ships that he was escorting out of Lisbon with five warships hit a French five-warships flotilla under commodore Alain Emmanuel de Coëtlogon on 22 May 1703.

During the ensuing Battle of Cap de la Roque, Vlacq sacrificed his warships in a successful attempt to let the merchant convoy escape.