Josef Byng was born before 1821 PD. He was second-generation prolong recipient. He originated from family with a tradition of naval service going back almost seven hundred years. He studied at a naval academy on Old Earth before entering service with the Solarian League's Battle Fleet. By 1889 PD, he had become an Admiral. In 1921 PD, he was – unusually – assigned to command of Frontier Fleet's Task Group 3021, which was sent to the Madras Sector in connection with the Talbott Cluster crisis.