John Byng

John Byng (October 29, 1704 – March 14, 1757), was a former Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland and Admiral of the British Royal Navy. He is chiefly noted for having been controversially court-martialled and executed for breach of the Articles of War at the start of the Seven Years' War.

Aftermath

The facts of Byng's life are fairly set out in Charnocks Biogr. Nay. vol. iv. pp. 145 to 179. The number of contemporary pamphlets about his case is very great.

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Byng's execution was satirized by Voltaire in his novel Candide. In Portsmouth, Candide witnesses the execution of an officer by firing squad; and is told that "in this country, it is wise to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others." (Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres.)

Related Topics:
Voltaire - Candide

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