Lord Byron was a prominent British poet of the Romantic period—perhaps the most overtly romantic of the Romantic poets, when considered from a contemporary vantage. He is well known for satirical poetry, showcasing his eccentric personality and imagination. Lord Byron or George Gordon Byron was born in January 1788 in London, England. Byron was the son of Captain John “Mad Jack” Byron and his second wife, Catherine Gordon, a Scottish heiress. When he was three years old, he moved with his mother to Scotland when his father quickly gambled away their family savings. Byron grew up extremely self conscious of his clubfoot, developing deep insecurity. At the age of ten, Byron unexpectedly inherited his great-uncle William’s Scottish title, estates, and fortune. After this, Byron and his mother moved to England, living and spending his childhood at Newstead Abbey. In 1801, Byron began his education at the prestigious school of Harrow and continued on to attend Trinity College, Cambridge in 1805.

Shortly after his arrival at Trinity College, Byron began writing and publishing his poetry. In 1806, he privately printed a collection of his poetry titled Fugitive Pieces. His first official publication of his work was his collection Hours of Idleness (1807). Although the work reveals many of Byron’s literary influences, Hours of Idleness lacks his bold personality, erroticism and satire commonly seen in his work. However after receiving aggressive criticism of his work, he responded by writing the couplet satire, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers, showcasing his wit and attitude. In this work, he vigorously addresses his critics and famous poets of the era such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Walter Scott. His fiery satire was received by the public with shock and fascination as viewers were captivated by his strong opinions. In 1809, Byron was accepted into the House of Lords and embarked on his desire to travel the world. He traveled throughout the Mediterranean, beginning one of his famous works Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in Greece. Byron’s journey through Greece made a lasting influence on him as he admired the Greek peoples and their vibrant culture.

In 1811, Byron returned to London upon the news of his mother’s illness, but was unable to reach Newstead before the time of her death. Soon after, Byron made his first speech at the House of Lords before a March protesting against Troy’s response to the Nottingham weavers. In March of 1812, the first two cantos of his piece Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage were published, gaining Byron widespread fame and popularity. The poem describes the travels of a young man and documents his life of debauchery and discovery.

During this time, Byron himself was part of many romantic scandals as he entered into short and passionate relationships with many different women. He nearly eloped with Lady Catherine Lamb, had a secret relationship with Lady Oxford, and even had relations with his half sister Augusta. These love affairs are reflected in his works The Giaour (1813), The Bride of Abydos (1813), and The Corsair (1814), each selling 10,000 copies on the day of publication.

In September 1816, Byron escaped from his romantic troubles by moving to Geneva to continue his writing career. Soon after his arrival in Geneva, Byron published Manfred (1817), romantically describing his own guilt and aggravation with his life. Byron continued his journey on to Italy where he began his greatest poem, Don Juan. The poem describes the life of Don Juan and his many adventures: surviving a shipwreck in Greece, traveling to Russia, and even meeting Catherine the Great. Byron’s specific style enfuses this work with social and political commentary, adding satire and elements of humor and wit. Byron was only able to complete the first sixteen cantos before he fell ill. In April 1823, he became a part of the London Committee, a group created to aid the Greeks in their fight for independence against the Turks. Byron used his own money to fund the cause, united many Greek groups in the fight, and led a brigade of Souliot soldiers. However, in February 1824, his illness became severe and he died on April 19, in Missolonghi, Greece. Upon his death, Byron’s body was brought to Newstead Abbey, where he now is buried.