Admiral John Byng, Commander-in-Chief of the fleet in the Mediterranean, was blamed for the loss of Menorca to the French and court martialled. If found guilty of breaching the Articles of War, the court had no discretion. Their only option would be to order his execution.
‘File:Le Départ de la flotte française pour l'expédition de Port-Mahon dans l'île de Minorque le 10 avril 1756-Nicolas Ozanne mg 8243.jpg’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
‘Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) - Admiral John Byng (1704–57), Admiral of the Blue - BHC2590 - Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) - Admiral John Byng (1704–57), Admiral of the Blue - BHC2590 - Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg|Thomas_Hudson_(1701-1779)_-_Admiral_John_Byng_(1704–57),_Admiral_of_the_Blue_-_BHC2590_-_Royal_Museums_Greenwich]]
‘File:Prise Port Mahon Minorque 20 mai 1756.jpg’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
‘File:Position des flottes francaises et anglaises bataille de Minorque 1756.jpg’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
‘John Cleveley the Elder - Admiral Byng's fleet getting underway from Spithead.jpg’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:John Cleveley the Elder - Admiral Byng's fleet getting underway from Spithead.jpg|John_Cleveley_the_Elder_-_Admiral_Byng's_fleet_getting_underway_from_Spithead]]
‘Plan du siege du fort Saint Philippe en 1756 Minorque.jpg’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:Plan du siege du fort Saint Philippe en 1756 Minorque.jpg|Plan_du_siege_du_fort_Saint_Philippe_en_1756_Minorque]]
‘The Execution of Admiral Byng, 14 March 1757 RMG BHC0380.tiff’ is Public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:The Execution of Admiral Byng, 14 March 1757 RMG BHC0380.tiff|The_Execution_of_Admiral_Byng,_14_March_1757_RMG_BHC0380]]
