Battle of Minorca ( 1756 ) The Battle of Minorca ( 20 May 1756 ) was a naval battle between French and British fleets . It was the opening sea battle of the Seven Years ' War in the European theatre . Shortly after the war began British and French squadrons met off the Mediterranean island of Minorca . The French won the battle . The subsequent decision by the British to withdraw to Gibraltar handed France a strategic victory and led directly to the Fall of Minorca . The British failure to save Minorca led to the controversial court - martial and execution of the British commander , Admiral John Byng , for " failure to do his utmost " to relieve the siege of the British garrison on Minorca . Background . The French had been menacing the British - held garrison on Minorca , which had come under British control during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1708 . Great Britain and France had commenced hostilities in the New World colonies earlier in 1754 ( the French and Indian War ) , and at this point the conflict was not going well for Great Britain . The government was anxious to protect her presence closer to home , and was concerned that the French might even be planning to invade Great Britain themselves ( as France had attempted in previous wars by supporting the Stuart claimants to the throne during the Jacobite Wars ) . The long - expected French move on Minorca finally caused the British government to act , albeit too belatedly , and a squadron of 10 ships of the line was dispatched from Gibraltar to its defence , under the command of John Byng ( then a Vice - Admiral , but quickly promoted to Admiral for the purpose ) . Despite having considerable intelligence of the strength of the French fleet at Toulon that was designated for the invasion of Minorca , the ships allocated to Byng were all in a poor state of repair and undermanned . Prelude . When Byng and his fleet , reinforced by ships of the Minorca squadron that had escaped the island , arrived off Minorca on May 19 , they found the island already overrun by French troops , with only the garrison of Fort St . Philip ( Port Mahon ) holding out . Byng ' s orders were to relieve the garrison , but a French squadron of 12 ships of the line and 5 frigates intervened as the afternoon was wearing on . The two fleets positioned themselves , and battle was drawn up on the morning of the following day . Battle . Facing 12 French ships of the line , Byng formed his 12 largest ships into a single line of battle and approached the head of the French line on a parallel course while maintaining the weather gage . He then ordered his ships to go about and come alongside their opposite numbers in the French fleet . However , the poor signalling capability of the times caused confusion and delay in closing . The British van took a considerable pounding from their more heavily armed French adversaries , while the rear of the line , including Byng ' s flagship , failed to come within effective cannon range . During the battle Byng displayed considerable caution and an over - reliance on standard fighting procedures , and several of his ships were seriously damaged , while no ships were lost by the French . Following a Council of War , at which all the senior officers present concurred , it was agreed the fleet stood no chance of further damaging the French ships or of relieving the garrison . Byng therefore gave orders to return to Gibraltar . Aftermath . The battle could hardly be considered anything other than a French victory in the light of Byng failing to press on to relieve the garrison or pursue the French fleet which inaction resulted in severe criticism . The Admiralty , perhaps concerned to divert attention from its own lack of preparation for the disastrous venture , charged Byng for breaching the Articles of War by failing to do all he could to fulfill his orders and support the garrison . Byng was court - martial led , found guilty and sentenced to death . Byng was executed on 14 March 1757 aboard in Portsmouth harbour . Byng ' s execution is referred to in Voltaire ' s novel " Candide " with the line " Dans ce pays - ci , il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres " – " In this country , it is wise to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others . " Despite William Pitt ' s eagerness to regain the island , a British expedition was not sent to recapture it for the remainder of the war . It was eventually returned to Britain following the Treaty of Paris , in exchange for the French West Indies and Belle - Île . Order of battle . In order of their place in the line of battle :