Minorca (Seven Years' War).
This place, garrisoned by 2,800 British troops, under General Blakeney, was invested by the French, under the Duc de Richelieu, May, 1756. On May 20, a British squadron of 15 line-of-battle-ships and 3 sloops, under Admiral Byng, attacked Richelieu's blockading squadron of 12 sail of the line and 5 frigates, with the object of throwing succours into the place. The attack, however, was conducted with so little resolution and resource, that Byng failed in his object, and allowed the French ships to escape him. Blakeney was shortly afterwards forced to surrender, and Byng was tried by court-martial, condemned and shot.