BYRON, HON. JOHN (1723-1786), British vice-admiral, second son of the 4th Lord Byron, and grandfather of the poet, was born on Nov. 8, 1723. While still very young, he accompanied Anson in his voyage of discovery round the world. He saw a great deal of hard service and stormy weather, and was nicknamed by the sailors, "Foul-weather Jack." It is to this that Lord Byron alludes in his Epistle to Augusta:— A strange doom is thy father's son's, and past Recalling as it lies 'beyond redress, Reversed for him our grandsire's fate of yore, He had no rest at sea, nor I on shore.
In 1768 he published a Narrative of some of his early adventures with Anson, which was to some extent utilized by his grandson in Don Juan. In 1769 he was appointed governor of Newfoundland. In 1775 he attained his flag rank, and in 1778 became vice admiral. In the same year he was despatched with a fleet to watch the movements of the Count d'Estaing, and in July, fought an indecisive engagement with him off Grenada. He died on April Io, 1786.