Frederik Johan van Baer

Frederik Johan van Baer
Possible portrait of Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg
Born	1645
Died	1713
Battles / wars	Second Anglo-Dutch War Franco-Dutch War Battle of Seneffe Siege of Maastricht Nine Years' War Battle of Walcourt War of the Spanish Succession Battle of Ekeren Passage of the Lines of Brabant

Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg (27 July 1645 – 15 December 1713) was a Dutch States Army officer. He served under William of Orange in the Franco-Dutch War and Nine Years' War. He was to become a controversial figure for his role in the War of the Spanish Succession. While a talented general, he possessed a very difficult character. Slangenburg was often at odds with his fellow generals, especially the Allied commander-in-chief, the Duke of Marlborough. The hero status he acquired as a result of his conduct in the Battle of Ekeren couldn't prevent his eventual dismissal during the 1705 campaign. Leading writer Thomas Lediard to remark that Slangenburg: lost by his tongue what he had gained by his sword.^[1]