John Byron

Born Nov. 8, 1723, in Nottinghamshire; died Apr. 10, 1786, in London. English navigator and commodore.

From 1740 to 1744, Byron took part in G. Anson’s voyage around the world. In 1764 he set out on a search for the Solomon Islands and for new lands in the Pacific Ocean, and he discovered several islands of the Tuamotu, Tokelau and Gilbert groups. The strait between New Ireland Island and Lavongai Island, as well as one of the Gilbert Islands (Byron Island or Nikunau), is named after John Byron.