Byron Hon John

Byron, Hon. John, British navigator and admiral, was second son of William, fourth Lord Byron, and was born in 1723. Entering the navy, he accompanied Anson on his celebrated voyage to the South Seas, and had the misfortune to be wrecked in the Wager, and to suffer almost unexampled hardships. After more than four years' absence from England, he returned, and was rapidly promoted to the rank of captain. He served almost continuously, but without gaining any great distinction till 1760, when, as commodore, he undertook and effectually completed the destruction of Louisbourg. He next commanded in the Dolphin, 20, a small expedition to the South Seas, where he made numerous discoveries. In 1769 he was made governor of Newfoundland, and in 1775 became rear-, and in 1778 vice-admiral. In the latter capacity he was employed in command of a squadron in North America and the West Indies, where, on July 6th, 1779, after many months of manoeuvring, he engaged the French admiral D'Estaing, who, although he suffered very severely, escaped a positive defeat. Admiral Byron then returned to England, where he died in 1786.