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.

Battle of Minorca

On the approach of the Seven Years War the island of Minorca, which had been under British possession since 1708 when it was captured during the War of the Spanish Succession, was threatened by a French naval attack from Toulon and was actually invaded in 1756.

Related Topics:
Seven Years War - Minorca - 1708 - War of the Spanish Succession - French - Toulon - 1756

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Byng, who was then serving in the Channel with the rank of admiral, which he attained in 1755, was ordered to the Mediterranean to relieve the British garrison of Fort St Philip (Port Mahon), which was still holding out. The squadron was not very well manned, and Byng was in particular much aggrieved because his marines were landed to make room for the soldiers who were to reinforce the garrison, and he feared that if he met a French squadron after he had lost them he would be dangerously undermanned. His correspondence shows clearly that he left prepared for failure, that he did not believe that the garrison could hold out against the French force landed, and that he was already resolved to come back from Minorca if he found that the task presented any great difficulty. He wrote home to that effect to the ministry from Gibraltar. The governor of the fortress refused to spare any of his soldiers to increase the relief for Minorca, and Byng sailed on May 8.

Related Topics:
Port Mahon - French - Gibraltar - May 8

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On the 19th he was off Minorca, and endeavoured to open communications with the fort. Before he could land any of the soldiers, the French squadron appeared.

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A battle (the Battle of Minorca) was fought on the following day, May 20. Byng, who had gained the weather gauge (was windward), bore down on the French fleet of M. de la Galissonire at an angle, so that his leading ships came into action unsupported by the rest of his line. The French cut the leading ships up, and then slipped away. When the flag captain pointed out to Byng that by standing out of his line he could bring the centre of the enemy to closer action, he declined on the ground that Thomas Mathews had been condemned for so doing. The French, who were equal in number to the English, got away undamaged. After remaining near Minorca for four days without making any further attempt to communicate with the fort or sighting the French, Byng sailed away to Gibraltar leaving Fort St Philip to its fate. the garrison held out until June 29, when it was forced to capitulate. Under negotiated terms the garrison was allowed passage back to England, whilst the fort and island came under French control.

Related Topics:
Battle of Minorca - May 20 - Flag captain - June 29

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