The San Francisco de Paulo was a Dutch Merchant ship. Its name, trade route and background point to a connection to the Hapsburg Netherlands/Belgium and Antwerp.

Sunk in the Franco-Dutch War

The Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) was a war between France and the Republic of the Netherlands. In the final phase of this war, the San Francisco de Paulo was underway from Seville to Amsterdam in a convoy under the protection of warships of the Amsterdam Admiralty. The Admiralty ships were under the command of the captains Tobias and Kint.

Nationaal Archief

When entering the British Channel, the convoy was intercepted by a squadron of seven French warships on July 11th, 1677. The Dutch ships managed to stay out of reach of the French ships until the next morning, but then a heavy fight ensued. Two ships carrying salt, the Zoutvat and Sparreboom, as well as the San Francisco de Paulo, were taken by the French. But shortly afterwards, the San Francisco sank probably due to damage from the battle.

Armament: 12 cannon

Het Scheepvaartmuseum

• Delpher.
  Oprechte Haerlemsche Courant.
  24-07-1677.
• Nationaal Archief, Den Haag.
  Levantse Handel.
  1.03.01, nr. 173.
• Delpher.
  Amsterdamse Courant.
  24-07-1677.
• Nationaal Archief, Den Haag.
  Admiraliteitsarchief.
  1.01.46, nr1423.