Henry Byng, 4th Earl of Strafford
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The Right Honourable The Earl of Strafford KCVO CB |
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"Byngo"
Byng as caricatured in Vanity Fair, May 1892 |
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| Equerry | |
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In office 1874–1899 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord de Ros |
| Succeeded by | John Brocklehurst |
| Groom-in-Waiting | |
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In office 1872–1874 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Gardiner |
| Succeeded by | John Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Henry William John Byng 21 August 1831 London, England |
| Died | 16 May 1899 (aged 67) Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Rank | Supernumerary Major |
| Unit | Coldstream Guards |
Henry William John Byng, 4th Earl of Strafford KCVO CB (21 August 1831 – 16 May 1899) was a British peer and courtier.
Byng was the second son of George Byng, 2nd Earl of Strafford and his first wife, Agnes. From 1840 he was a Page of Honour to Queen Victoria and joined the Coldstream Guards in 1847 as a Lieutenant. In 1854, he was promoted to Captain, by purchase, appointed an Adjutant later that year and a Supernumerary Major in 1865.
In 1872, Byng was made a Groom-in-Waiting and then an Equerry two years later. In 1895, he was appointed a CB and knighted KCVO in 1897. In 1898, he inherited his elder brother's titles.
Byng was killed by an express train at Potters Bar railway station. Witnesses said he appeared to step in front of the approaching engine from the bottom of the slope at the end of the platform. His body was carried 50 yards down the track. A coroner's court was later told he had the nervous condition of catalepsy. The inquest jury – after considering several verdicts including suicide – returned a finding of death by misadventure.
As his sons predeceased him the titles passed to his brother, Francis.
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