New book traces downfall of disgraced admiral

Stripped of his command, Byng was court martialled for "failing to do his utmost" in the face of the enemy, and became the only 18th Century British admiral to be executed.

Byng's life story is the subject of a new book by Chris Ware, a lecturer in naval history at Greenwich Maritime Institute at the University of Greenwich. He explained the how the case gripped 18th Century Britain.

He said: "Byng was the victim of a government cover up. He was pretty anonymous until he was sent to relieve Minorca in May 1756. But he was given too few men for the job, his fleet was damaged in action against the French and he sailed to Gibraltar to repair his damaged ships.

"There he was arrested and brought back to England and charged, even though it wasn't really his fault. He didn't have the military talent to pull off victory and lacked the political acumen to deal with the charges against him."

Byng was imprisoned in Greenwich for three months before the court martial in Portsmouth.

"There was debate about whether he should be sent to the Tower but in the end he was sent to Greenwich Hospital, which later became part of the Naval College," said Mr Ware.

"He was only allowed one servant and he was not allowed visitors between dusk and dawn, a little unfair considering it was October and the days were short.

"They put iron bars on the windows and across the fireplace to stop him escaping, even though he was 52 years old and rather portly, so the idea of him shinning up the chimney to escape is a bit far fetched."

Byng's court martial lasted 21 days, capturing the imagination of the nation, with people flocking to the port to catch a glimpse of him.

Mr Ware said: "It was an unusually long trial, when trials at the Old Bailey at that time took about an hour. His effigy was burned in 40 cities across the country and the press had a field day attacking his character."

Byng was found guilty but with a recommendation for mercy. New Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder was politically weak and couldn't save him, while King George II refused a pardon because he wanted to make an example the Admiral.

Byng was executed on board HMS Monarch in Portsmouth harbour, facing his end with commendable pluck.

"He died very stoically," said Mr Ware. "He was only eight feet from the firing squad, literally looking them in the eye. He was made to blindfold himself and he held a handkerchief in his right hand, which he dropped when he was ready to be shot. He wanted to appear calm and in control and he managed that."

Byng was immortalised by Voltaire in his satire Candide, and while many historians argued he deserved his fate others present a more balanced view.

According to Mr Ware Byng's execution had important repercussions for the navy.

He said: "Just two years after Byng's death the navy had it's annus mirabilis, which set the seal on Britain becoming a world power and not just a European one.

"Byng was part of a learning process the navy had to go through. It was partly because of him the disciplined navy so well used by Nelson developed."

Admiral Byng: His Rise and Execution by Chris Ware is out now, priced £19.99.