The Battle of Minorca was a fleet action fought on 20 May 1756 between the French and British navies during the Seven Years' War. Fought off Minorca shortly after the war began, it was the opening naval battle of the war's European theatre and resulted in a French strategic victory. The decision by the British fleet's commander, Admiral of the Blue John Byng, to withdraw to Gibraltar led directly to the fall of Minorca. Byng's failure to save Minorca led to a controversial court-martial which resulted in his execution for "failure to do his utmost" to relieve the siege of the British garrison on Minorca.
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