John Byron
Vice-Admiral John Byron (8 November 1723 – 1 April 1786) was a British
Royal Navy officer and explorer. He earned the nickname "
Foul-Weather Jack" in the press because of his frequent encounters with bad weather at sea. As a midshipman, he sailed in the squadron under
George Anson on his voyage around the world, though Byron's ship,
HMS ''Wager'', made it only to southern Chile, where it was wrecked. He returned to England with the captain of the ship. He was governor of
Newfoundland following
Hugh Palliser, who left in 1768. He circumnavigated the world as a commodore with his own squadron in 1764–1766. He fought in battles in the
Seven Years' War and the
American Revolution. He rose to Vice Admiral of the White before his death in 1786.
His grandsons include the poet
Lord Byron and
George Anson Byron, admiral and explorer, who were the 6th and 7th Baron Byron, respectively.
Provided by Wikipedia