Admiral Byng never had an opportunity to live in retirement at Wrotham. Following his inadequately equipped expedition to relieve Minorca from the French during the Seven Years' War, he was court martialled and executed in 1757. This event was satirized by Voltaire in his novel Candide. In Portsmouth, Candide witnesses the execution of an officer by firing squad; and is told that "in this country, it is wise to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others".