Niels Juel

Niels Juel (1629–1697) was a Dano-Norwegian admiral born in Christiania. He learned seamanship in the Dutch navy during the First Anglo-Dutch War, joined Danish service, and became an admiral in 1657, helping defend Copenhagen in 1658–1660.

Given supreme command in the Scanian War after Cort Adeler's death in 1675, he fought at Jasmund and Öland, then defeated the Swedes at Møn and at Køge Bay in 1677; Køge Bay was the greatest victory in Danish naval history.

Juel regained supreme command in 1678. From 1683 he headed the admiralty and expanded the fleet into a blue-water navy.