John Byng

Biography

Fourth wire of George Byng, Viscount of Torrington, it enters the marine in 1718. The influence of his/her father, First Lord off the Admiralty of 1727 with 1733, allows him a fast rise. It receives the rank of lieutenant in 1723 then that of captain in 1727. In 1742 it is governor-commodore of the colony of Newfoundland.

Its career is without history until its promotion like Rear-admiral ( rear admiral ) in 1745 then vice admiral in 1747. It then avoids the most difficult places of the British navy.

With the approach of the War Seven Year old, the island of Minorque is under the threat of a French attack since Toulon. Byng, then admiral in the Handle since 1755, takes the changing of the garrison of the Strong Saint-Philippe in the Mediterranean. The squadron being badly equipped, Byng then fears strongly a French attack to which it would be difficult to face. Its correspondence shows clearly that it envisages a return on Minorque in the event of danger. He writes for this purpose a mail with the governor of Gibraltar. Byng takes the sea however the May 8th.

The May 19th, it enters in communication with the fort. Before to have been able to unload only one of its soldiers appear the French troops starting the battle as of the following day. Because of a tactical error, the flagship is cut remainder of the fleet. The French, whose manpower is comparable with that of the defenders, ordered by Galissonière, do not essuient any loss. Byng escapes initially towards Minorque; then, without trying to establish new communications with the Strong Saint-Philippe nor to even see the French again, it puts the course towards Gibraltar, leaving the fort to its sad fate.

This failure made scandal in Great Britain: Byng was repatriated then judged in martial court. He was condemned to died and shot on March 14th 1757 with Portsmouth.

Analyzes

The severity of the sorrow and the cowardice of the ministry, suspected of having sought to cover itself by rejecting all the blame on the admiral, caused then a reaction in favor of the admiral Byng. It became a commonplace to say that Byng had been put at died in consequence of an error of judgment, the court having discharged it criminal charges of cowardice and cowardice.

Byng had been only condemned not to have made of sound better. However, following many scandals during the preceding wars, the martial law had been deliberately hardened in order to not leave any unpunished fault and to apply the capital punishment for any officer, whatever his row, not having made the impossible one in front of the enemy.

Literature

The execution of Byng inspired some lines with Voltaire in his Candide or optimism.

Extract of the chapter 23: While thus causing they approached in Portsmouth; a multitude of people covered the shore, and attentively looked at a rather large man who was with knees, the eyes bandaged, on the tillac of one of the vessels of the fleet; four soldiers, posted with respect to this man, most peacefully drew each one to him three balls in cranium of the world, and all the assembly was turned over from there extremely satisfied. “That is this thus that all this? known as Ingenuous, and which demon exerts its empire everywhere? ” He asked which was this large man that one had just killed in ceremony. “It is an admiral, answered him one. -- And why kill this admiral? -- It is, says him one, because it did not make kill enough world; it delivered a combat to a French admiral, and it was found that it was not enough close to him. -- But, known as Candide, the French admiral was as far from the English admiral as this one was the different one for it! -- That is undeniable, retorted to him one; but in this country it is good from time to time to kill an admiral to encourage the others. ”

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