George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington

George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington, was born on 11 October 1740. He was the eldest son of Major-General George Byng, 3rd Viscount Torrington (1701–1750), and Elizabeth Daniel. His paternal grandfather was Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Byng, KB, who received a baronetcy in 1715 and was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Torrington in 1721. The family was formerly seated at Southill Park in Bedfordshire. George Byng was a great-uncle of the politician Lord John Russell. In 1847, his cousin, Field Marshal Sir John Byng, GCB, was created Earl of Strafford.

He inherited the title of Viscount Torrington and the family estate at Southill Park upon the death of his father in 1750. In 1795, he sold Southill Park to Samuel Whitbread, a brewer.

On 20 July 1765, George Byng married Lady Lucy Boyle (1744–1792), daughter of John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork, and Margaret Hamilton. The marriage produced seven children: three sons who all predeceased him and four daughters. Their children included:

- Hon. Lucy Elizabeth Byng (1760–1844), who married Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford, in 1788.

- Hon. Georgiana Elizabeth Byng (1768–1801), who married John Russell, later 6th Duke of Bedford, in 1786.

- Hon. William Henry Byng (1769–1770), who died in childhood.

- Hon. Isabella Elizabeth Byng (1773–1830), who married Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath, in 1794.

- Hon. William Henry Byng (1775–1792), who died young.

- Hon. George Byng (1777–1792), who died young.

- Hon. Emily Elizabeth Byng (1779–1824), who married Henry Seymour of Brighthelmston, Sussex, son of Lord Robert Seymour, in 1801.

George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington, died on 14 December 1812. Since he had no surviving male issue, the title was succeeded by his younger brother, John Byng, 5th Viscount Torrington. John died less than a month later, also without surviving male heirs.

References and external links include archival materials related to George Byng, held at the UK National Archives, and a portrait by Hugh Douglas Hamilton (1739–1808) available at ArtUK.