John Byng

Admiral John Byng (baptized October 29, 1704 – March 14, 1757) is a Royal Navy officer.

After joining the navy at the age of thirteen, he participates in the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718.

Over the next thirty years he builds up a reputation as a solid naval officer and receives promotion to vice-admiral in 1747.

He also serves as Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland Colony in the 1740s, and is a Member of Parliament from 1751 until his death.

Byng is best known for failing to relieve a besieged British garrison during the Battle of Minorca at the beginning of the Seven Years' War.

Byng had sailed for Minorca at the head of a hastily assembled fleet of vessels, some of which are in poor condition.

He fights an inconclusive engagement with a French fleet off the Minorca coast,  then elects to return to Gibraltar to repair his ships.

Upon return to Britain, Byng is court-martialed and found guilty of failing to "do his utmost" to prevent Minorca falling to the French.

He is sentenced to death and shot by firing squad on March 14, 1757.

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