George Byng, 6th Viscount Torrington
Vice-Admiral George Byng, 6th Viscount Torrington (5 January 1768–18 June 1831), Royal Navy, commanded , the ship which returned King William I to the Netherlands from his exile in London, for which service he was appointed by the king to the Military Order of William. Early life George Byng was born the eldest son of Colonel the Honourable John Byng and his wife Bridget, the daughter of Commodore Arthur Forrest, in London on 5 January 1768. He was initially educated at Greenwich but was then moved to a seminary at Paddington where he completed his education in preparation for joining the Royal Navy, as had been planned for him from an early age. Naval career Byng joined the Royal Navy on 23 February 1778, embarking on the 74-gun ship of the line HMS Thunderer as a midshipman. Thunderer made up part of the fleet of Admiral Augustus Keppel, and on 27 July Byng saw his first action at the indecisive Battle of Ushant. In 1780 he transferred to the 32-gun frigate HMS Alarm, but soon after he moved again, joining the 32-gun frigate HMS Active. In her Byng fought at the Battle of Porto Praya on 16 April 1781. After