Lord Byron Bicentenary

Lord Byron.

19 April was the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron's tragically early death at Missolonghi, Greece. 

This 'poor little rich boy', born in 1788, was the son of 'Mad Jack', as Captain Byron was known, and Catherine Gordon of Gight. 

Byron spent his childhood in Aberdeen, and was later educated at Harrow.

When Byron succeeded to the baronetcy in 1798, he discovered that his predecessors had squandered the family fortune. The ancient family home, Newstead Abbey, was ruinous and forlorn. 

'Hours of Idleness', his first collection of poems, was published in 1807, but received short shrift from some reviewers.  However, it was the publication of Childe Harold (1812), which brought Byron instant fame. 

Newstead Abbey. 

A chaotic and colourful love life - including, many believe, a relationship with his half-sister Augusta - and a disastrous marriage to Annabella Milbanke led to a different kind of notoriety.

Byron left England for good in 1816. He never saw his divorced wife, or their little girl, Ada, again. 

Bosun's Monument, Newstead.

Lord Byron travelled widely - Switzerland, Italy, and Greece - and you can explore an interactive map of his travels here. 

His relationships with Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley, Claire Clairmont would fill a book by themselves.

Cascata Delle Marmore, near Terni.

Lord Byron visited this 'matchless cataract' near Terni in 1817 (image on the right).

Byron lived a full life abroad. There was a torrent of new poems, lovers, travels, history, architecture. But he wanted a cause to believe in - and the need for freedom for the Greek people truly inspired him.

He arrived in Greece in 1824, ready to fight for freedom. However, his doctors, and a fever,  proved too much for Lord Byron. 

The Byron Society has a list of events planned for the bicentenary here. 

Byron's Residence at Missolonghi in 1824. 

Images:

Lord Byron. Published by James Robins & Co., 1824.

Newstead Abbey. © Sue Wilkes.

The dog Bosun's monument, Newstead Abbey. © Sue Wilkes.

A bust of Lord Byron in the gardens of Newstead Abbey. © Sue Wilkes.

Cascata Delle Marmore, © Sue Wilkes.

'Lord Byron's Residence at Missolonghi' where he died in 1824. An 1827 engraving by H.Raper and R.Roberts, author's collection.