Admiral Sir George Byng's Fleet at Naples, by Kaspar Botler; from Pattee Byng's Journal
Byng's chase after the Spanish Fleet down to Cape Passaro started from Naples.
 | 1704 Gibraltar 1706 Barcelona 1706 Alicante 1708 Dunkirk 1718 Cape Passaro 1 1718 Cape Passaro 2 1718 Cape Passaro 3 BYNG & WALTON After distinguishing himself early for courage and enterprise, Byng grew into an exceedingly astute politician. The man of the match at Passaro was undoubtedly Captain Walton, but, being a man of very few words, he seems to have let himself be shuffled into the sidelines, and Byng garnered all the credit. It is possible that this is reflected in the painting, presumably executed under Byng's directions. |
In Pattee Byng's Journal, p.23, there is a revealing passage relating to George Byng's attitude in this connection: "He called no Council of War before he came up with the Spanish Fleet, following in that the maxim I have often heard him recommend; which was, that a commanding officer should only call a Council of War to screen him from what he has no mind to undertake. But when determined upon what he thinks is right and may acquire honour to himself, to do it without the advice of a Council of War, and take all the merit of it to himself. ..... The admirals not being called to advise with before the action, they took it ill, but Sir George did not let them share the glory of his success, nor make himself liable to be disappointed in what he was determined to do by any other advice they might have given ....." From the "number as per margin" referred to by Captain Walton in his famously laconic report below, "It appeared he had captured four Spanish ships of war, one of them mounting sixty guns, commanded by rear-admiral Mari himself, one of fifty-four, one of forty, and one of twenty-four guns, with a bomb vessel and a ship laden with arms; and had burnt one ship of war mounting fifty-four guns, two of forty, and one of thirty, a fireship and a bomb-ketch." From Biographia Navalis, by Charnock. |
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the soul of wit
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"In this action Sir G.Byng thought there was great reason to blame the conduct of several captains of the Fleet who instead of following and attacking ships of equal force to them, fell, two or three upon one, and so gave to several the opportunity to escape; but as he was crowned with success he would accuse none." Pattee Byng's Journal, p.23. Sir George was tight-fisted character. It is not likely Monamy found him a valuable customer. |
Named Participants at the Battle of Cape Passaro. In Lives of the Georgian Age, edited by W.Gould, there is a breezy account of Byng's career. Of Cape Passaro the contributor writes "although he was outnumbered and sustained heavy losses himself, he succeeded in defeating the Spaniards." This is a warning to all not to rely on compilations. It is clear that the battle was a rout. Numbers were roughly equal, but the Spaniards were out-gunned from top to bottom. Those that did not escape were flattened at the coast, or squashed in the middle. Byng's losses cannot have been anything but minor. Cape Passaro 1 Cape Passaro 2 Cape Passaro 3 Capture of the Real San Felipe by H.Vale
Pieced together from Charnock, Biographia Navalis, and Pattee Byng's Journal.
Full details doubtless provided in Thomas Corbett's Account, Charnock's source.
English
Barfleur 90, Admiral George Byng; First Captain was George Saunders
Shrewsbury 80, Vice-Admiral Charles Cornwall
Dorsetshire 80, Rear-Admiral George Delavall
Grafton 70, Captain Nicholas Haddock
Kent 70, Captain Thomas Mathews
Orford 70, Captain Edward Falkingham
Superbe 60, Captain Streynsham Master
Canterbury, Captain George Walton
Breda 70, Captain Barrow Harris
Captain, Captain Archibald Hamilton
Montagu 60, Captain Thomas Beverley
Rochester 50, Captain Joseph Winder
Royal Oak 70, (Capt. J. Winder in 1719)
Rupert 56/60, Captain Arthur Field
Argyle
Essex Spanish
Real San Felipe 74, Admiral Don Anthonio de Castaneta: taken
Principe de Asturias 70, Rear-Admiral Chacon: taken
San Carlos 60, Prince de Chalay: taken
San Luis 60, Rear-Admiral Guavara: escaped
Aguila: caught at coast
Esperanza: caught at coast
San Fernando 60: escaped
Santa Isabella: taken
San Isidoro 46: caught at coast
Juno: taken
Real: caught at coast
Santa Rosa 64: taken
Sorpresa: caught at coast
Volante 40/46: taken
Rear-Admiral George Cammock: escaped
Rear-Admiral de Mari: coast detachment
Admiral Don F. de Grimao: galleys commander, escaped
byng: oil portrait
byng: mezzotint
battles pre 1704 battles 1704-1739
battles post 1739
note on sea power