On This Day In History: Admiral John Byng Charged With ‘Failing To Do His Utmost’ – Executed – On Mar 14, 1757

AncientPages.com - On March 14, 1757, John Byng, an admiral of the Royal Navy, was executed by firing squad for neglect of duty.

Byng was born on October 29, 1704, in Southill, Bedfordshire, and was the son of a prominent Royal Navy admiral. He entered the Royal Navy in 1718 and by 1745 had reached the rank of rear admiral. His rapid rise through the ranks was due more to his father's influence than any natural ability.

Portrait of Admiral John Byng (1704-1757). Credit: Royal Museums Greenwich  - Public Domain

In 1755, when war was about to break out with France, Byng was ordered to sail to the Mediterranean island of Minorca, then a British possession, to defend it from attack.

By the time he arrived, the war had started, and the French fleet had already attacked the island. Although Byng's fleet was inadequate for the task, he fought a minor skirmish with the French, suffered considerable damage against an overwhelming force, and then decided that he could do nothing and retreated to Gibraltar, leaving Minorca to the enemy.

Byng's cowardly behavior angered public opinion in Britain. The Prime Minister, Newcastle, ordered Byng to be imprisoned for neglect of duty. He was court-martialed in Portsmouth and found guilty, despite his plea that he had been inadequately supplied for his mission.

Byng was executed by firing squad on board his flagship.

This event inspired the French writer Voltaire (1694 – 1778) to write his famous satire "Candide," in which he ridiculed religious dogma, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies, intolerance, and philosophers.

His novel caused a great scandal and was widely banned. Later, Voltaire's work inspired many authors with its sharp wit and accurate and deep understanding of the human condition.

Byng is buried at All Saints Church, Southhill, Bedfordshire, East England.

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