The Hon. John Byng

Posted by Cheryl Nicol on Tuesday 28th of November 2023 03:25

William Brograve - then a lieutenant - was appointed one of his guards and witnessed Byng’s controversial execution on the Monarque by firing squad, an event since viewed as a low point in British Naval history.

Posted by Robert Boon on Tuesday 26th of July 2016 19:57

At Byng's court martial, which took place on board HMS St George in Portsmouth harbour, commencing 28 December 1756 and with the verdict on 27 January 1757, the court martrial board consisted of:

Thomas Smith, Esq, Vice Admiral of the Red
Francis Holburne, Esq, Rear Admiral of the Red
Harry Norris, Esq, Rear Admiral of the White
Thomas Brodrick, Esq, Rear Admiral of the Blue

and Captains Charles Holmes, William Boys, John Simcoe, John Bentley, Peter Denis, Francis Geary, John Moore, James Douglas, Hon. Augustus Keppel

The following naval personnel gave evidence:

Temple West, Esq, Vice Admiral of the Blue (sworn 29 December 1756)
Captain Everitt, late of the Buckingham (31 December 1756)
Lieutenant John Bover, late First Lieutenant of the Buckingham (1 January 1757)
Lieutenant Richard Higgs, late Second Lieutenant of the Buckingham (1 January 1757)
Lieutenant George Wood, late Third Lieutenant of the Buckingham (1January 1757)
Captain Robert Mann, late Fourth Lieutenant of the Buckingham (1 January 1757)
Captain James Gilchrist, late of the Experiment (3 January 1757)
Hon. Captain Augustus John Hervey, late Commander of the Phoenix (3 January 1757)
Captain John Amherst, late Commander of the Deptford (4 January 1757)
Lieutenant Peter Foulkes, late of the Phoenix (5 January 1757)
Captain William Lloyd, late of the Chesterfield (5 January 1757)
Captain Henry John Philips, late First Lieutenant of the Deptford (5 January 1757)
Captain Thomas Bailie, late Second Lieutenant of the Deptford (6 January 1757)
Captain Benjamin Marlow, late of the Dolphin (6 January 1757)
Lieutenant Thomas Bishop, late First Lieutenant of the Dolphin (6 January 1757)
Lieutenant Thomas Barker, late First Lieutenant of the Chesterfield (6 January 1757)
Lieutenant Charles Buckner, acting Fourth Lieutenant of the Lancaster (6 January 1757)
Captain Paul Henry Ourry, late a Volunteer on board the Lancaster (6 January 1757)
Captain Patrick Baird, late Commander of the Portland (7 January 1757)
Captain James Young, late Commander of the Intrepid (7 January 1757)
Hon. Captain George Falconer, late Second Lieutenant of the Intrepid (8 January 1757)
Captain Frederick Cornwall, late Commander of the Revenge (8 January 1757)
Hon. Robert Boyle, late Fourth Lieutenant of the Revenge (10 January 1757)
Captain Philip Durell, late Commander of the Trident (10 January 1757)
Captain Arthur Gardiner, late Captain of the Ramillies (11 January 1757)
Captain William Gough, late First Lieutenant of the Ramillies (12 January 1757)
Captain Christopher Bassett, late Second Lieutenant of the Ramillies (12 January 1757)
Lieutenant Daniel Waudby, late Third Lieutenant of the Ramillies (12 January 1757)
Lieutenant Matthew Waterfall, late Fifth Lieutenant of the Ramillies (12 January 1757)
Lieutenant George Hamilton, late Sixth Lieutenant of the Ramillies (12 January 1757)
Lieutenant Edward Clark, late Fourth Lieutenant of the Ramillies (13 January 1757)
Joseph Belvaird, late Master of the Ramillies (13 January 1757)
Lieutenant Joseph Tatwell, late Midshipman of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
Lieutenant Lancelot Holmes, late Midshipman of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
Lieutenant James Norman, late Midshipman of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
Lieutenant Henry Bellew, late Midshipman of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
Rodney Blithe, late Midshipman of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
John Richardson, late Midshipman of the Pheonix (14 January 1757)
Andrew Jefferies, late Boatswain of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
John Lee, late Gunner of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
Richard Shaw, late Carpenter of the Ramillies (14 January 1757)
William Foster, late Carpenter of the Intrepid (14 January 1757)
Captain Henry Ward, late Commander of the Culloden (14 January 1757)
Lieutenant James Worth, late First Lieutenant of the Culloden (15 January 1757)
Mr Richard Lloyd, late Surgeon of the Ramillies (15 January 1757)
Captain William Parry, late Commander of the Kingston (15 January 1757)
John Bruce, late Master's Mate of the Dolphin (15 January 1757)
Mr George Lawrence, Secretary to Admiral Byng, was on board the Ramillies (19 January 1757)