Byng, GEORGE, VISCOUNT TORRINGTON

Byng, GEORGE, VISCOUNT TORRINGTON, admiral, was born in 1663 at Wrotham, Kent, and entered the navy at the age of fifteen. In 1688 he recommended himself to William of Orange by his activity and zeal in attaching the officers of the fleet to the cause of the Revolution, and was advanced to the rank of captain. Made rear-admiral of the red in 1703, he next year captured Gibraltar, and for his gallant conduct at the sea-fight of Malaga was knighted by Queen Anne. In 1708 he became admiral of the blue, and commanded a squadron fitted out to oppose an intended invasion on the part of the Pretender. He pursued the French fleet to the Firth of Forth, took one ship, and forced the rest back to Dunkirk. For his services during the '15 he was created a baronet; and in 1718 he commanded the English fleet sent to Sicily for the protection of the neutrality of Italy, on 31st July utterly destroying the Spanish fleet off Messina. Soon after, he was appointed treasurer of the navy and rear-admiral of Great Britain. In January 1721 he was sworn one of the Privy-council, and in September following created Viscount Torrington. On the revival of the Order of the Bath, in 1725, he was installed one of the knights; and, on the accession of George II., was nominated First Lord of the Admiralty. He represented Plymouth in parliament from 1706 until 1721. He died January 17, 1733.