George Byng (1^st Viscount Torrington of Devon)

Posted by Brian on Sunday 17th of January 2016 17:57

Gentleman's Magazine 1733 (Deaths) Jan 17 - George Byng, Visc. Torrington, Baron Byng of Southill, Knight of the Bath, one of the Privy Council, first Commissioner of the Admiralty, Admiral of the Red, Rear Admiral of England, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Fleet, and one of the Governors of Greenwich Hospital. He commanded the fleet of Scotland in 1708. Conducted the present Q. of Portugal to Lisbon, and the next was appointed a Lord of the Admiralty, in 1715 he was created a Baronet. In 1718 he commanded the British Fleet in the Mediterranean; was Plenipotentiary to all the Princes and states in Italy, and to the Emperor of Morocco; and upon his return, in consideration of his having crush'd the labour'd efforts of Spain to set up a power at sea, by which the Arms of Britain were advanced to such a pitch of reputation that her Flag gave Laws to the contending parties, and her Crown enable to resettle the Tranquillity of Europe, he was created a Peer. He married the daughter of James Masters of East London Esq. and has left seven sons and one daughter the Lady Osborne.