The court-martial, while expressly clearing him of cowardice or disaffection, found him guilty of not doing his utmost either to defeat the French fleet or to relieve the garrison at Mahon; and, as the article of war prescribed death with no alternative punishment for this offence, it felt compelled to sentence him to death.

The king refused to pardon, and Byng was accordingly shot.
The expedition against Minorca was begun while nominal peace still lasted.

On the 17th of May, three days before Byng's battle, England declared war, and France replied on the 20th of June.

On the 28th, Port Mahon surrendered, and Minorca passed into the hands of France.
The nature of the troubles between the two nations, and the scenes where they occurred, pointed out clearly enough the proper theatre of the strife, and we should by rights now be at the opening of a sea war, illustrated by great naval actions and attended with great modifications in the colonial and foreign possessions of the two powers.

Of the two, England alone recognized the truth; France was again turned aside from the sea by causes which will shortly be given.
Her fleets scarcely appeared; and losing the control of the sea, she surrendered one by one her colonies and all her hopes in India.