Portrait of John Byng by Thomas Hudson, 1749
Admiral John Byng (29 October 1704 – 14 March 1757) was a Royal Navy officer. After joining the navy at the age of fourteen he participated at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. Over the next thirty years he built up a reputation as a solid naval officer and received promotion to Admiral.
Byng is best known for the loss of Minorca in 1756 at the beginning of the Seven Years' War. He was court-martialled and executed for failing to "do his utmost" to prevent Minorca falling to the French following the Battle of Minorca,
From Wikipedia