Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron entered the world on the 22nd of January 1788 on Holles Street in London. His birthplace now sits beneath a branch of the department store John Lewis. He was the only child of Captain John 'Mad Jack' Byron and Catherine Gordon, an heiress from Aberdeenshire. The family lineage traced back to Ralph de Buran, who arrived with William the Conqueror in the 11th century. His land holdings appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086. Byron's father had previously been married to Amelia Osborne, Marchioness of Carmarthen, in a scandalous union that produced two children who died in infancy. Amelia herself died in 1784 from what was likely tuberculosis. Her heart was said to be broken by remorse for leaving her husband, though press reports blamed Jack's brutal treatment. Jack then married Catherine Gordon on the 13th of May 1785, primarily for her fortune. To claim her estate, he adopted the surname Gordon, becoming John Byron Gordon. Catherine sold her land to pay his debts, leaving her with an annual income of just £150. She accompanied him to France in 1786 but returned to England at the end of 1787 to give birth. Byron was born in January 1788 and christened at St Marylebone Parish Church. His mother named him after her own father, George Gordon of Gight, who had died by suicide in 1779. When his great-uncle, posthumously labeled the 'wicked' Lord Byron, died on the 21st of May 1798, the ten-year-old became the sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale. He inherited Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire, which was in a state of disrepair. His mother leased it out during his adolescence rather than living there.
Byron received early formal education at Aberdeen Grammar School from January 1795 until moving back to England as a ten-year-old. In August 1799 he entered Dr William Glennie's school in Dulwich. Placed under Dr Bailey's care, he exercised moderately but could not restrain himself from violent bouts of activity to compensate for his deformed foot. His mother interfered with his studies, often withdrawing him from school, contributing to his lack of self-discipline. He attended Harrow School from 1801 until July 1805. An undistinguished student and unskilled cricketer, he represented the school in the first Eton v Harrow cricket match at Lord's in 1805. He fell in love with Mary Chaworth while at school, refusing to return in September 1803 because of her. His mother wrote that he had no indisposition but desperate love. In later memoirs, Mary Chaworth appeared as the first object of his adult sexual feelings. He returned in January 1804 to a settled period forming emotional involvements with other Harrow boys. The most enduring friendship was with John FitzGibbon, second Earl of Clare, four years his junior. They met again unexpectedly in 1821 in Italy. Nostalgic poems about these friendships expressed a consciousness of sexual differences that might make England untenable. Letters in the John Murray archive contained evidence of a romantic relationship with a younger boy named John Thomas Claridge. In autumn he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, where he formed a close friendship with the younger John Edleston. Byron described Edleston as his almost constant associate since October 1805. After Edleston's death, Byron composed Thyrza, a series of elegies in his memory. He described the affair as violent yet filled with love and passion.
While not at school or college, Byron lived at Burgage Manor in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. There he cultivated friendships with Elizabeth Bridget Pigot and her brother John, staging plays for community entertainment. With help from Elizabeth Pigot, who copied many rough drafts, he wrote his first volumes of poetry. Fugitive Pieces was printed by Ridge of Newark but promptly recalled and burned on Reverend J.T. Becher's advice due to amorous verses like To Mary. Hours of Idleness followed as a culminating collection. Savage anonymous criticism in the Edinburgh Review prompted English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809). Byron put it into Robert Charles Dallas's hands, asking him to publish without his name. Dallas suggested changes and stated that Byron had originally intended to prefix an argument. Although published anonymously, Dallas noted in April that Byron was already generally known as the author. The work upset critics so much they challenged him to a duel. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage's first two cantos were published in 1812 and received critical acclaim. In Byron's own words, 'I awoke one morning and found myself famous.' He followed up with the poem's last two cantos and four celebrated Oriental Tales: The Giaour, The Bride of Abydos, The Corsair, and Lara. From 1809 to 1811, Byron went on the Grand Tour, traveling with Hobhouse and servants including valet William Fletcher. The Napoleonic Wars forced him to avoid most of Europe, turning instead to the Mediterranean. His journey enabled him to meet former love Mary Chaworth and satisfy curiosity about the Levant. He began in Portugal, writing to Hodgson about learning Portuguese swear words. He enjoyed Sintra, describing it later as 'glorious Eden' in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. From Lisbon he traveled overland to Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, and Gibraltar, then by sea to Sardinia, Malta, Albania, and Greece. In Athens in 1810, he wrote Maid of Athens for twelve-year-old Teresa Makri. On the 3rd of May 1810, while HMS Salsette was anchored awaiting Ottoman permission, Byron and Lieutenant Ekenhead swam the Hellespont. He commemorated this feat in Don Juan's second canto.
After publishing Childe Harold's first two cantos in 1812, Byron became a celebrity star in Regency London. He was sought after at every society venue and elected to exclusive clubs. During this period he produced works like The Giaour, The Bride of Abydos (1813), Parisina, and The Siege of Corinth (1815). Involved in an affair with Lady Caroline Lamb, who called him mad, bad, and dangerous to know, he moved on to others. She never recovered, stalking him even dressed in disguise as a pageboy. Once she wrote Remember me! on his desk; he retorted with Remember Thee! Remember Thee!. As a child, Byron saw little of half-sister Augusta Leigh but formed a close relationship in adulthood interpreted by some as incestuous. Biographer André Maurois regarded incest as proven. Augusta gave birth on the 15th of April 1814 to Elizabeth Medora Leigh, rumored by some to be Byron's child. He courted Anne Isabella Milbanke, who refused his first proposal but later accepted. They married at Seaham Hall on the 2nd of January 1815. Their daughter, Augusta Ada, was born that December. On the 16th of January 1816, Lady Byron left him, taking Ada with her. That same year on the 21st of April, Byron signed the Deed of Separation. Rumors of marital violence, adultery with actresses, incest with Augusta Leigh, and sodomy circulated. In a letter, Augusta quoted him saying such rumors were utter destruction from which one could never recover. Lady Caroline published Glenarvon in 1816 portraying him as seedy title character. Growing debts and scandals forced him to leave England in April 1816, never to return.
Byron wintered in Venice after leaving England, pausing when he fell in love with Marianna Segati. She was soon replaced by twenty-two-year-old Margherita Cogni, both women married. Cogni could not read or write and left her husband to move in with Byron. Their fighting caused Byron to spend nights in his gondola; when asked to leave, she threw herself into the Venetian canal. In 1816 he visited San Lazzaro degli Armeni in Venice, acquainting himself with Armenian culture through Mechitarist Order monks. With Father Pascal Aucher's help, he learned the Armenian language and attended seminars about history. In 1817 he co-authored Grammar English and Armenian, an English textbook corrected by Byron. He initiated A Grammar Armenian and English in 1819, including quotations from classical and modern Armenian. He helped compile the English Armenian Dictionary (Barraran angleren yev hayeren) in 1821, writing a preface explaining Armenian oppression by Turkish pashas. His translations included Epistle of Paul to Corinthians and sections of Movses Khorenatsi's History of Armenia. He translated portions of the Armenian Bible absent from standard English versions. His fascination led him to consider using the Armenian Cain story for his play. By 1817 he journeyed to Rome, returning to Venice to write Childe Harold's fourth canto. About the same time he sold Newstead Abbey and published Manfred, Cain, and The Deformed Transformed. Between 1818 and 1820 he wrote the first five cantos of Don Juan. In 1819 he met twenty-one-year-old Countess Guiccioli, who found her first love in him. He asked her to elope with him. Deciding against migration to Venezuela or Cape Colony, he left Venice for Ravenna. Because of his love for Teresa Guiccioli, he lived there from 1819 to 1821. Here he continued Don Juan and wrote the Ravenna Diary and My Dictionary and Recollections.
Living in Genoa in 1823, Byron accepted support overtures from Greek independence representatives fighting the Ottoman Empire. At first he did not wish to leave mistress Countess Teresa Guiccioli, but her father allowed exile only if she returned without him. Edward Blaquiere attempted to recruit him as a philhellene. Byron was confused about what to do, writing that Blaquiere thought he might be useful though specifying nothing exactly. With banker Daniel Roberts's assistance, he chartered brig Hercules to take him to Greece. When leaving Genoa, it caused passionate grief from Guiccioli, who wept openly. The vessel returned to port shortly after setting sail; when it finally departed, Guiccioli had already left. On the 16th of July, Byron left Genoa, arriving at Kefalonia on the 4th of August. He spent £4,000 refitting the Greek fleet. Traveling to mainland Greece on night of the 28th of December 1823, his ship was surprised by an Ottoman warship mistaking it for a fireship. To avoid the navy, he took roundabout routes, reaching Missolonghi on the 5th of January 1824. There he joined Alexandros Mavrokordatos, a Greek politician with military power. Moving to second floor of two-story house, he dealt with unruly Souliotes demanding back-pay owed by government. He gave them some £6,000. Planned attack on Navpaktos failed because Souliotes demanded more money before marching. He sent them home on the 15th of February 1824. By end of March 1824, so-called 'Byron brigade' of thirty philhellene officers and exactly 231 men formed, paid entirely by him. Leadership divided between Klepht Odysseas Androutsos and Phanariot Prince Alexandros Mavrokordatos. Byron used prestige trying to persuade rivals to unite against Ottomans. Other leaders like Petrobey Mavromichalis wrote letters telling him to disregard Roumeliot leaders. On the 15th of February 1824, before expedition could sail, he fell ill; bloodletting weakened him further. In early April he caught cold; therapeutic bleeding exacerbated it. He contracted fever and died in Missolonghi on the 19th of April. His physician Julius van Millingen could not prevent death.
In 1812 Byron embarked on well-publicized affair with married Lady Caroline Lamb shocking British public. She described him mad, bad, and dangerous to know. She never recovered, pursuing him even dressed as pageboy. As child, Byron saw little half-sister Augusta Leigh but formed close relationship interpreted by some as incestuous. Biographer André Maurois regarded fact of incest as proven. Augusta gave birth the 15th of April 1814 to Elizabeth Medora Leigh, rumored by some to be Byron's child. He courted Anne Isabella Milbanke who refused first proposal but later accepted. They married the 2nd of January 1815 at Seaham Hall. Their daughter Augusta Ada born December that year. On the 16th of January 1816 Lady Byron left taking Ada. That same year the 21st of April Byron signed Deed of Separation. Rumors circulated about marital violence, adultery with actresses, incest with Augusta Leigh, and sodomy assisted by jealous Lady Caroline. In letter Augusta quoted him saying such rumors were utter destruction from which one could never recover. Lady Caroline published Glenarvon in 1816 portraying him seedy title character. Byron described first intense romantic feelings age seven for distant cousin Mary Duff. He became attached to Margaret Parker another distant cousin. His recollection showed ignorance of adult sexuality during time bewildered source intensity feelings. Only reference himself makes event ambiguous how old occurred. After death lawyer wrote mutual friend singular fact scarcely fit narration disclosed nonetheless thinking might explain sexual propensities. Gray used knowledge ensuring silence if tempted disclose low company kept during drinking binges. She dismissed supposedly beating Byron when eleven years old. Few years later while still child Lord Grey De Ruthyn suitor mother made sexual advances on him. Leslie A. Marchand theorized Lord Grey De Ruthyn's advances prompted later liaisons young men Harrow Cambridge. Scholars acknowledge more or less important bisexual component very complex sentimental sexual life. Emily A. Bernhard Jackson asserted Byron's sexual orientation difficult contentious topic evidence nebulous contradictory scanty simple define homosexual heterosexual seems rather both either. Crompton stated what not understood own century except tiny circle associates Byron was bisexual. Fiona MacCarthy posited true sexual yearnings adolescent males. Asserted several letters Charles Skinner Matthews reveal key motive Grand Tour hope homosexual experiences. Athens met fourteen-year-old Nicolo Giraud teaching Italian. Arranged enrollment monastery Malta writing into will bequest £7,000 cancelled later. Wrote Hobhouse tired pl opt Cs last thing tired complete intercourse heart desire. Allegedly code communicated homosexual Greek adventures John Hobhouse England. Loukas Chalandritsanos Greek protégé rescued Ithaca. During voyage Zakynthos Missolonghi took page concerned boy captured Turks spoiled outrageous spending £600 catering every whim course six months. Deathbed gave bag Maria Theresa crowns £600 receipt loan Greeks government position honor Loukas died poverty six months later. Speculation relationship between Byron Loukas homosexual pointing verses evidence claim.
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Common questions
When and where was Lord Byron born?
George Gordon Byron entered the world on the 22nd of January 1788 on Holles Street in London. His birthplace now sits beneath a branch of the department store John Lewis.
Who were Lord Byron's parents and what was their relationship history?
His parents were Captain John 'Mad Jack' Byron and Catherine Gordon, an heiress from Aberdeenshire. His father had previously been married to Amelia Osborne who died in 1784 before marrying Catherine on the 13th of May 1785 primarily for her fortune.
What major life events led to Lord Byron leaving England permanently in 1816?
Rumors of marital violence, adultery with actresses, incest with Augusta Leigh, and sodomy circulated after Lady Byron left him on the 16th of January 1816. Growing debts and scandals forced him to leave England in April 1816 never to return.
How did Lord Byron die during his involvement in the Greek War of Independence?
Lord Byron contracted fever and died in Missolonghi on the 19th of April 1824. His physician Julius van Millingen could not prevent death after therapeutic bleeding exacerbated a cold he caught in early April.
Which languages did Lord Byron study and publish works about during his time in Italy?
Byron learned the Armenian language with Father Pascal Aucher's help and co-authored Grammar English and Armenian in 1817. He initiated A Grammar Armenian and English in 1819 and helped compile the English Armenian Dictionary in 1821.