The naval Battle of Minorca took place on May 20, 1756, at the opening of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre, shortly after the Kingdom of Great Britain had declared war on the House of Bourbon, off the Mediterranean island of Minorca between British and French squadrons. Its unsatisfactory (for the British) result lead to the later (controversial) court-martial and execution of the British commander, Admiral John Byng, for "failure to do his utmost" to relieve the siege of the British garrison on Minorca. The battle marked the opening of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre. 20 May is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... 1756 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The House of Bourbon is an important European royal house. ... Satellite image The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. ... Flag of Minorca Minorca (Menorca both in Catalan and Spanish and increasingly in English usage; from Latin insula minor, later Minorica minor island) is one of the Balearic Islands (Illes Balears Catalan official name, Islas Baleares in Spanish), located in the Mediterranean Sea, and belonging to Spain. ... A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ... Admiral is a word from the Arabic term Amir-al-bahr (Lord of the bay). ... John Byng (October 29, 1704 – March 14, 1757), was a former Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland and Admiral of the British Royal Navy. ... The Seven Years War, sometimes referred to as the Pomeranian War or the French and Indian War, (1754 and 1756–1763) pitted Great Britain, Prussia, and Hanover against France, Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. ...

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Admiral John Byng's account of the Battle of Minorca (1756)

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Background

The French had been menacing the British-held garrison on Minorca, which had come under British control as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1708. Britain and France had commenced hostilities in the New World colonies earlier in 1754 (the French and Indian War, and as at this point the conflict was not going well for Britain, the government was anxious to protect her presence closer to home, and was concerned that the French might even be planning to invade Great Britain itself. Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain. ... // Events March 23 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth July 1 - Tewoflos becomes Emperor of Ethiopia September 28 - Peter the Great defeats the Swedes at the Battle of Lesnaya Kandahar conquered by Mir Wais In Masuria one third of the population die during the plague J... Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, c. ... 1754 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The French and Indian War is the American name for the decisive nine-year conflict (1754-1763) in North America between the Kingdom of Great Britain and France, which was one of the theatres of the Seven Years War. ...

The French move on Minorca gave the British government impetus to act, and a squadron of 10 ships of the line and some other smaller vessels was dispatched to its defence, under the command of John Byng (then a Vice-Admiral, but quickly promoted to Admiral for the purpose). Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ...

Prelude

When Byng and his small fleet, reinforced by ships of the Minorca squadron that had escaped the island, arrived off Minorca on May 19, they found the island already overrun by French troops, with only the garrison of Fort St. Philip (Port Mahon) holding out. Byng's orders were to relieve the garrison, but a French squadron of 12 ships of the line and 5 frigates intervened as the afternoon was wearing on. The two fleets positioned themselves, and battle was drawn up on the morning of the following day.

The battle

During the battle Byng displayed considerable caution and an over-reliance on standard fighting procedures, and his fleet was seriously damaged although no ships were lost on either side. Maintaining that his fleet stood no chance of further damaging the French ships nor of relieving the garrison, Byng gave orders to return to Gibraltar.

Aftermath

The battle could be considered a draw, but Byng's actions in failing to press on to relieve the garrison or further pursue the French fleet resulted in severe criticism. The Admiralty, perhaps concerned to cover for its own ill-preparedness for this disastrous venture, charged Byng for breaching the Articles of War by failing to do all he could to fulfil his orders and support the garrison. Byng was court-martialled, found guilty and sentenced to be shot; the sentence was carried out on March 14, 1757 on the battleship Monarch in Portsmouth harbor. He was buried at Southill. The Royal Navys Articles of War have changed slightly over the centuries they have been in force, but the 1757 version is representative. ... A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ... March 14 is the 73rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (74th in Leap years) with 292 days remaining in the year. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

One of the participating British ships, HMS Dolphin, was later to become the first ship to circumnavigate the world twice, firstly under the command of John Byron, and secondly under Samuel Wallis. HMS Dolphin was a 24-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. ... To circumnavigate a place, such as an island, a continent, or the Earth is to travel all the way around it by boat or ship. ... John Byron (November 8, 1723 – April 10, 1786) was a British vice-admiral. ... Samuel Wallis (c. ...

A notable participant in the battle on the British side was an eighteen-year-old Midshipman, Arthur Phillip, who would later lead the First Fleet which in 1787 sailed for Botany Bay, Australia where in 1788 he nearby established the continent's first European settlement and penal colony of Sydney. For the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a subordinate officer, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank. ... Admiral Arthur Phillip (1786 portrait by Francis Wheatley, National Portrait Gallery, London) Admiral Arthur Phillip (11 October 1738 – 31 August 1814) was a British naval officer, governor of the first European settlement in Australia and founder of the city of Sydney. ... The First Fleet is the name given to the group of people and ships who sailed from England in May 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales. ... 1787 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Bicentennial Monument at Botany Bay Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, a few kilometres south of the central business district. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A Penal Colony is a colony used to detain prisoners and generally use them for penal labor in an economically underdeveloped part of the states (usually colonial) territories, and on a far larger scale than the prison farm. ... Sydney is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian state of New South Wales, as well as Australias largest and oldest city (founded in 1788). ...

Ships involved:

Great Britain (Adm John Byng)

In order of their place in the line of battle:

1. Defiance 60
2. Portland 50
3. Lancaster 66
4. Buckingham 68
5. Captain 64
6. Intrepid 64
7. Revenge 64
8. Princess Louisa 60
9. Trident 64
10. Ramillies 90 (flag)
11. Culloden 74
12. Kingston 60

and 6 others including Deptford 48 and Dolphin 22

France (Marquis de la Galissonnière)

1. Orphée
2. Hippopotame
3. Redoubtable
4. Sage
5. Guérrier
6. Fier
7. Foudroyant
8. Teméraire
9. Content
10. Lion
11. Couronne
12. Triton

and 5 frigates