Amidst the flickering candlelight of opulent ballrooms, intrigue and mystery whirl. George Gordon Byron’s exploits spread through the crowd in hushed tones. Cloaked in blackness, he lingers. His eyes afire with an intensity promising danger and allure. Women swoon, men mutter, and society stands in awe and judgment. Lord Byron entrances and intimidates. Like a storm, he sweeps through the salons of London.
To understand Byron, one must follow him beyond the gilded confines of high society. Across the seas, his restless spirit sailed. He travelled from the romantic desolation of the Swiss Alps to sun-drenched Italy. And further to the battlefields of Greece. Each locale imprinted upon his soul. In haunting poetry, his pen seized its spirit. For those who yearned to break free from the shackles of convention, his verses seduced them.
Who stands cloaked behind the myth? What drove his tempestuous soul to seek solace in the arms of danger and scandal? Why did he flee the familiar comforts of England to foreign lands? A man of paradoxes, a nobleman who supported the oppressed. A sinner with a saintly heart and a wanderer in perpetual search of a home.
Table of Contents
- Passion, Poetry, and Immortal Fame of George Gordon Byron
- A Meticulous Interpretation of Each Verse of ‘Mythical Musings and Heroic Hearts’
- Why Is Byron Called Romantic Paradox?
- What Was Lord Byron Famous for?
- Why Was Byron Exiled?
- Why Did Byron Leave England?
- Timeline of George Gordon Byron
Passion, Poetry, and Immortal Fame of George Gordon Byron
Mythical Musings and Heroic Hearts
Gallant poet of sensual actions, 1
Entwining tales of bold interactions. 2
Orchestrating Don Juan’s risky quest, 3
Real-life strains and triumphs manifest. 4
Glory, turmoil, and Juan’s ardent heart, 5
Eloquence and passion in Byron’s art. 6
Glimpses of shadiness float through verses, 7
Of Cain’s lament, his anger, and curses. 8
Revolt in Prometheus, stealing fire, 9
Debating disputes and Titan’s desire. 10
On Mount Olympus, where Greek Gods reside, 11
Narrating suffering and loss of pride. 12
Byronic heroes of beauty and wit, 13
Yearning for autonomy bit by bit. 14
Romantic pursuits with deep emotions, 15
Of pivotal questions and devotions, 16
Never ignored words brimming with notions. 17
A Meticulous Interpretation of Each Verse of ‘Mythical Musings and Heroic Hearts’
First Stanza
1
My Acrostic poem begins with Lord Byron’s character. Gallantry, romanticism, rebellion, introspection, melancholy, charisma, and controversy define his persona. In Byron’s poetry, passion, desire, and sensuality shine bright. He penned romantic encounters with certain gallantry and grace. UP
2
George Byron thought ill about expectations in society and rules. Say romantic escapades or philosophical musings. Against the status quo, his characters rebel. They see authority as insignificant and welcome a life of affection and adventure. UP
3
In Don Juan’s saga, risk and recklessness come forth, Juan’s journey brimming with peril. Fate gambles with each of his steps. George Gordon Byron orchestrates bold escapades and dangerous liaisons. The risky quest of Don Juan stands as the precariousness of life itself. UP
4
The real-life strains and triumphs form the heart of the tale of ‘Don Juan.’ On the protagonist’s travels, he encounters many characters and situations. They reflect the world around him in shades of grey. Complexities and contradictions. UP
5
The central theme of glory and turmoil permeates Gordon Byron’s famous poem. From the glittering halls of power to the tumultuous seas of passion, Juan experiences a lot.
Glory lures with promises of fame and fortune. Yet, with each step forward, Juan entangles in the web of human ambition and greed.
Despite the turmoil, his heart burns with an ardent passion. Akin to a flame, lighting the darkest corners of his soul. With the flickering fire, he finds his way through the labyrinth of his desires and fears. UP
6
George Gordon Byron’s poems have eloquence and passion. Besides the story of Don Juan, the attributes manifest in other of his art. ‘Child Harold’s Pilgrimage’ and ‘She Walks in Beauty’ radiate with lasting passion. Palpable and profound. UP
Second Stanza
7
In Lord Byron’s verses, shadiness often lingers like whispers of the night. The characters in his stories prosper in shades of moral ambiguity. Whether the tormented outcast of ‘Manfred’ or the seducer of ‘Don Juan.’ Or the brooding anti-hero of ‘Child Harold’s Pilgrimage.’ His protagonists live in a world in shades of grey. The drab colour blurs the lines between right and wrong, good and evil. UP
8
In ‘Cain, a Mystery’ Lord Byron portrays Cain’s lament. He tells about the character’s anguish and cursing, his turbulent emotions. Cain curses the heavens for his unjust punishment. He thunders against the divine decree, condemning him to misery and isolation. UP
9
The revolt in Prometheus revolves around the theft of fire. Yet, Gordon Byron did not write specifically about stealing it. In Greek Mythology, Prometheus epitomises a Titan and a deity of fire. He defies the Olympian Gods by stealing the blaze from them. UP
10
The Titan’s rebellion against the Gods pivots on giving fire to humanity. In granting humankind understanding and culture, the desire of Prometheus manifests. Hence, the disputes George Gordon Byron debates about. UP
11
Mount Olympus portrays the home of the Greek Gods. Zeus rules as the King of Gods on Olympus, a deity of sky and thunder. He does not appreciate Prometheus theft. UP
12
Zeus punishes Prometheus to eternal suffering. According to legend, Prometheus got bound to a rock while an eagle ate his liver. The liver regenerated overnight, and the eagle ate it again. Prometheus endures pain in an endless cycle. He lost his pride. UP
Third Stanza
13
During the Romantic era, the literary archetype of the Byronic hero emerged. This type rose from the works of George Gordon Byron. Many times, the idol has something of Byron’s personality and principles. Brooding and charismatic, the hero disregards society.
Their features show in beauty and wit alongside isolation and affection. And also introspection, as well as having an air of mystery. UP
14
The yearning for autonomy assumes a central aspect of the Byronic hero. They aim for independence to control their destinies. This longing for autonomy manifests bit by bit. Due to society imposing constraints and expectations upon them. UP
15
Gordon Byron depicted the Byronic hero as having romantic pursuits and deep emotions. Their love connections form their personality. Tumultuous affairs stress their struggles. UP
16
Often, the Byronic hero thinks about pivotal questions and devotions. In their musings, morality, the purpose of life, and the existence of God hold importance. They introspect on a philosophical level while they look for answers.
Causes, ideals, loved ones, and self-discovery drive their devotions. A duty to them pushes them forward, forming their actions and motivations. UP
17
I conclude my Acrostic with Lord Byron’s mastery of language. He flavoured words with rich notions. With imagery, symbolism, and philosophical musings, they brim. George Gordon Byron never shied away from verbose ideas and concepts. UP
Why Is Byron Called Romantic Paradox?
At first glance, Gordon Byron embodies the quintessential Romantic hero. Brooding intensity, passionate ardour, and defiant individualism characterise him. With a yearning for freedom and a fascination for human darkness, his poetry echoes. From the grand lands of ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ to the tormented souls of ‘Manfred.’ Or the seductive allure of ‘Don Juan.’ The verses of Gordon Byron pulsate with intensity and thrill of rebellion against the norm.
Beneath the veneer of Romantic idealism lies a paradoxical complexity. George Gordon Byron emerged as a product of his time. A child of the Enlightenment grappling with the contradictions of an era in flux. He promoted liberty while staying a prisoner of his ardour. Lord Byron defined the staunch individualist and the creature of the expectations of society. Contradictions peppered his life’s voyage. As a nobleman, he sympathised with the oppressed. As a libertine, he longed for lasting love. And as a sceptic, he yearned for faith.
“They come not yet.-Now by the voice of him
Excerpt from ‘Manfred’ – Act I, Scene I
Who is the first among you-by this sign,
Which makes you tremble-by the claims of him
Who is undying,-Rise! appear!—Appear!”
One enduring paradox within Gordon Byron’s persona lies in his duality. He inhabited both the public sphere and his private domain. The public imagined him as a romantic hero. Complete with flashy attire, scandalous affairs and bold exploits. Lord Byron savoured the adoration of his admirers. Dispute shadowed his polarising behaviour, though. It bestowed upon him a reputation as a literary “bad boy.”
Behind this facade lay a sensitive and introspective soul. Insecurities, doubts, and inner demons tormented Gordon Byron. His inner turmoils mirror in his poetry. They resound the challenges and problems of his psyche. Alienation, uniqueness, and mortality emerge as themes. He fathomed the depths of human nature with raw honesty.
“When we two parted
Excerpt from ‘When We Two Parted’ – First stanza
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.”
Gordon Byron also had an attraction to and a rejection of Romantic ideals. On the one hand, he cherished individualism, emotion, and imagination. On the other hand, he harboured scepticism towards the romanticisation of nature. And how the reverence for the majestic and the pursuit of truth played out. The poetry of Lord Byron navigates the tension between the ideal and the real. It has moments of the magnificent and the ordinary, the heroic and the absurd.
Another paradox of Gordon Byron lies in his enduring legacy. The triumphs and failures of Romanticism stand for his persona. His literature still mesmerises with intense passion, loving charm and unflinching directness. But the hazards of indulgence, pride, and arrogance linger as a cautionary tale from his life. George Gordon Byron defies easy categorisation. He stays forever elusive, forever enigmatic, a true Romantic paradox.
What Was Lord Byron Famous for?
The illustrious George Gordon Byron casts a long shadow over the land of Romanticism. With the tapestry of literary brilliance, his legacy of poetic genius intertwines.
On the windswept moors of Scotland, echoes of tales whisper through heather-clad hills. The Scottish highlands stimulated Lord Byron. Amidst this rugged beauty, his verses strew upon the untamed land like wildflowers. An era hungry for devotion and rebellion found themselves enchanted by his words.
Scotland had a special place in Gordon Byron’s heart. Its natural magnificence enticed him. Also, his ancestry and personal identity lay in these lands. Freedom and adventure, pride in his heritage infused his poetry.
“Away, ye gay landscapes, ye gardens of roses!
Excerpt from ‘Lachin y Gair’ – First stanza
In you let the minions of luxury rove;
Restore me the rocks, where the snow-flake reposes,
Though still they are sacred to freedom and love:
Yet, Caledonia, belov’d are thy mountains,
Round their white summits though elements war;
Though cataracts foam ‘stead of smooth-flowing fountains,
I sigh for the valley of dark Loch na Garr.”
Born in 1788 in London, George Gordon Byron’s rise to stardom began harsh. At age 19, he published his first collection of short poems called ‘Hours of Idleness.’ It received poor reviews upon its initial publication. Mockery answered the call of the title. ‘Hours of Idleness’ recalls sloth or a lack of productivity. The critical consensus on the work stressed its deficit in maturity and artistry. Style, themes, and quality denounced.
The response of Gordon Byron to this criticism led to a satirical work. Its title bears ‘English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.’ In it, he defends himself and launches scathing attacks on his critics. The moulding of his public persona resulted pretty much from this controversy. For his subsequent literary triumphs, it paved the path.
“Shall gentle Coleridge pass unnoticed here,
Excerpt from ‘English Bards and Scotch Reviewers’
To turgid ode and tumid stanza dear?
Though themes of innocence amuse him best,
Yet still Obscurity’s a welcome guest.
If Inspiration should her aid refuse
To him who takes a Pixy for a muse,
Yet none in lofty numbers can surpass
The bard who soars to elegize an ass:
So well the subject suits his noble mind,
He brays, the Laureate of the long-eared kind.”
Not merely George Gordon Byron’s poetic prowess set him apart, but the essence of his being. His turbulent spirit raged like the untamed sea. And it enchanted like the elusive depths of the soul. In his embodiment of Romanticism, his life interlaced ardour, adventure, and despair.
His hunger for adventure found satisfaction as he embarked on his ‘Grand Tour’ in 1809. After departing from England, he travelled through Portugal and Spain. Cities such as Lisbon, Seville, and Cadiz, he visited.
Gordon Byron crossed into Albania one year later, exploring the region. The culture and history of the land mesmerised him. Around 1811, his voyage led him through Greece and Turkey. Athens, Smyrna, and Constantinople graced his eyes. He also spent time in Malta before returning to England later in the year.
In 1812, ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ streaked across the midnight sky like a comet. It blazed with an intensity, lighting the inky blackness of the cosmos of literature. This masterwork of Lord Byron acted as a clarion call to sullen souls. It beckoned them to venture upon a voyage of self-discovery.
“Adieu, adieu! my native shore
Excerpt from ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ – Canto the First, Stanza XIII.
Fades o’er the waters blue;
The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar,
And shrieks the wild sea-mew.
Yon sun that sets upon the sea
We follow in his flight;
Farewell awhile to him and thee,
My Native Land-Good Night!”
But the fame of Lord George Gordon Byron extended beyond the realms of poetry alone. A lover, a fighter, and a wanderer of the world, his character possessed many layers. His scandalous affairs and wild relationships titillated the gossipmongers of the public.
Despite the fame and notoriety of Gordon Byron, a sense of longing lurked within him. He yearned for something lying beyond the fleeting pleasures of fame and fortune. This existential angst infused his poetry with emotion unmatched by his contemporaries.
Why Was Byron Exiled?
Brilliance, scandal, and an unquenchable thirst for freedom summarise Lord Byron. Born into the British aristocracy, he appeared fated for a life of privilege. From his earliest days, he exhibited a rebellious spirit, though. His ardent heart resisted taming.
Gordon Byron’s rise to fame proved meteoric. The Romantic era’s zeitgeist finds its manifestation in his emotional poetry. Audiences flew to works such as ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ and ‘The Giaour’ like bees to nectar. But as his star ascended in the literary cosmos, the shadows of his personal life lengthened, too.
The exile of George Gordon Byron comprised more than a single event. It pinnacled in various scandals and societal transgressions. In Regency England’s aristocratic circles, elevation’s speed matched descent’s speed. The turbulent affairs of Gordon Byron gave ample fodder for admiration and censure.
“He knew himself a villain-but he deem’d
Excerpt from ‘The Corsair’ – Canto I., Stanza XI.
The rest no better than the thing he seem’d;
And scorn’d the best as hypocrites who hid
Those deeds the bolder spirit plainly did.”
A scandalous separation ended Lord Byron’s marriage to Annabella Milbanke. Rife with rumours of infidelity, abuse, and even incest. The latter stemmed from his controversial relationship with his half-sister, Augusta Leigh. Such forbidden liaison ignited the puritanical ire of British society. Eager to find a scapegoat for its hidden hypocrisies.
Beyond these sensual rumours lay deeper currents of discontent. Gordon Byron had an outspoken nature and political radicalism. For the societal conventions, he had nothing but disdain. This notion placed him at odds with the rigid mores of his time. He stood for the oppressed, whether in his support for the Luddites (Wikipedia) or the Greek War of Independence. A Romantic hero refusing to bow to the status quo.
“He comes at last in sudden loneliness,
Excerpt from ‘Lara – A Tale’ – Canto the First, Stanza IV.
And whence they know not, why they need not guess;
They more might marvel, when the greeting’s o’er,
Not that he came, but came not long before:
No train is his beyond a single page,
Of foreign aspect, and of tender age.
Years had rolled on, and fast they speed away
To those that wander as to those that stay;
But lack of tidings from another clime
Had lent a flagging wing to weary Time.
They see, they recognise, yet almost deem
The present dubious, or the past a dream.”
The relentless societal pressure and toll of scandal pushed him towards exile. Gordon Byron left England in 1816 and never returned. His departure resembled less a formal exile decreed by the state. And more a self-imposed banishment. He fled from the unrelenting scrutiny and moralistic judgement of society. Once this society celebrated him, now it disdained him.
In various parts of Europe, Lord Byron spent his years in exile. He continued to write and link with the revolutionary movements of his age. In Italy, he found peace and a community of similar individuals like the Shelleys. But even in exile, the spectre of his past scandals loomed large. His past misdemeanours formed the perception and remembrance of him.
Why Did Byron Leave England?
Gordon Byron stood as a man of contradictions. Despite his aristocratic background, he detested the traditions of society. He symbolised a romantic poet with a proneness for scandal. His soul yearned for adventure far from the confines of his homeland.
The glamour and the glittering salons of the aristocracy, disillusioned Gordon Byron. He found the stifling atmosphere of English society disenchanting.
Beneath the surface of his flamboyant persona lay deeper currents of uneasiness. Disquiet haunted Byron, driven by a longing for something beyond the joy of renown and wealth. His travels across Europe exceeded a mere quest for inspiration. They pleased his craving for comfort and purpose in a world in turmoil.
After leaving England in 1816, Gordon Byron first visited Belgium. He took a liking to the culture and history of the country. While in Belgium, Byron relished leisure activities like sightseeing. Along with local intellectuals, he partook in the cultural scene of Brussels.
Lord Byron continued to correspond with friends and writers whilst staying in Belgium.
His visit to Belgium remained brief, though. Gordon Byron moved his attention to other destinations in Europe.
Due to its reputation as a haven for intellectuals, Switzerland held an appeal for Byron. Majestic mountains and tranquil lakes offered a setting conducive to introspection. Switzerland also has a liberal-minded culture and tradition of political neutrality. For intellectual freedom and artistic expression, it imparts a refuge.
In the peacefulness of Lake Geneva, he mingled with writers and thinkers. With Percy Shelley and Mary Godwin, in particular, as they shared his passion for literature.
Switzerland fulfilled his love of adventure and outdoor pursuits also. Activities like hiking, horseback riding, and boating pleased his wild soul. He welcomed independence.
“My very chains and I grew friends,
Excerpt from ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’ – Stanza XIV.
So much a long communion tends
To make us what we are:-even I
Regained my freedom with a sigh.”
In late 1816, George Byron travelled from Switzerland to Italy. The country held a particular allure. Its cultural heritage and artistic scene pulled him in like iron to a magnet. The romantic lands offered shelter, far away from the prying eyes of English society. On these fertile grounds, his poetry bloomed. The warmth of the Mediterranean sun and ancient ruins stirred his soul. Some of his most iconic works he penned in Italy. For ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage,’ he wrote Canto 3 in 1816 and Canto 4 in 1819. He finished this work. In 1818, he began writing ‘Don Juan.’ However, he never completed it.
“I want a hero: an uncommon want,
Excerpt from ‘Don Juan’ – Canto the First, Stanza I
When every year and month sends forth a new one,
Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant,
The age discovers he is not the true one;
Of such as these I should not care to vaunt,
I’ll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan-
We all have seen him, in the pantomime,
Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time.”
The Greek War of Independence led to Byron’s departure from Italy. He travelled to Greece in 1823 to support the Greeks against the Ottoman Empire. Gordon Byron thought his presence and support could make a notable difference. The suffering of the Greek people under Ottoman rule moved him. He perceived a chance to play a part in their struggle for independence.
Greece depicted more than a distant land. A reason worth fighting and dying for, it signified defiance against tyranny. The death of Gordon Byron in Missolongihi in 1824 cemented his legacy. Lord Byron’s legacy as a romantic and advocate for liberty gradually ascended to prominence.
Timeline of George Gordon Byron*
1780s
1788, January 22
Birth of George Gordon Noel Byron in Marylebone, an area in London, England. His right foot bore the mark of a disfigurement from birth.
1789, Summer
Moved to Aberdeen in Scotland with his mother. His father joined them. The relationship between father and mother deteriorated.
1790s
1790
His father went to France.
1791, August 2
Death of his father, John Byron.
1794
Entered Aberdeen Grammar School.
1796
Fell in love with Mary Duff, his distant relation.
1797
Suffered from scarlet fever.
1798
Attended Aberdeen Grammar School.
1798, May 19
Death of his great uncle William Byron, the 5th Baron Byron of Rochdale. Gordon Byron assumed the title of 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale. He came into possession of Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire.
1798, August
Visited Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire with his mother. The abbey proved rather a ruin and needed many repairs.
1799
Lived in Nottingham with his mother and endured abuse from his nurse, May Gray.
1799, September
Entered the school of Dr. William Glennie in Dulwich.
1800s
1800, Summer
Visited Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire.
1801
Entered school at Harrow.
1801, December
Met his half-sister Augusta during the Christmas holidays in London.
1802
Spent Christmas in Bath.
1803, January
His mother leased Newstead Abbey to Henry Yelverton, 19th Baron Grey de Ruthyn.
1803
Moved with his mother to Burgage Manor in Southwell in Nottinghamshire. Because of strained relations, Gordon Byron relocated to the Gatehouse at Newstead Abbey.
1803, September
Refused to return to school at Harrow due to his love for Mary Chaworth.
1804, January
Returned to school at Harrow.
1805, July
Attended school at Harrow.
1805
Wrote a collection of poems titled ‘Childish Recollections’ during his school days at Harrow.
1805, October
Entered Trinity College in Cambridge.
1806, October
Wrote the poem ‘The Cornelian.’
1806
Released his first collection of poems named ‘Fugitive Pieces.’ The publisher recalled and burned the copies of the book, including 38 poems.
1807
Wrote the poem ‘Lachin y Gair,’ narrating his childhood in Scotland.
1807, January
Printed ‘Poems on Various Occasions’ privately.
1807, June
Published ‘Hours of Idleness.’ A collection of 39 poems which garnered negative reviews. Nineteen of those poems came from ‘Fugitive Pieces’ and eight from ‘Poems on Various Occasions.’
1808, July
Graduated from Trinity College in Cambridge, where Gordon Byron spent three years.
1808
The lease of Newstead Abbey to Henry Yelverton, 19th Baron Grey de Ruthyn ended.
1808
Published ‘Poems Original and Translated.’
1808
Moved to Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire and began repairs.
1808, November 18
Death of Boatswain of rabies, the Newfoundland dog of Lord Byron.
1808
Wrote the poem ‘Epitaph to a Dog’ to honour Boatswain.
1809, March
Published ‘English Bards and Scotch Reviewers,’ a satire to his critics. Some of the critics grew incensed enough to challenge Byron to a duel.
1809, June
Started the ‘Grand Tour,’ which made him travel through Europe. Gordon Byron began the tour in Portugal, visiting Sintra. Then he journeyed to Spain, visiting Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, and Gibraltar. In Gibraltar, a ship took him to Sardinia, Malta, Albania, and Greece. Later, he travelled to Smyrna and Constantinople.
1809
In Athens, Nicolo Giraud taught Byron Italian. Nicolo also acted as his travel companion in Greece.
1810s
1810, February
Wrote the poem ‘Maid of Athens, Ere We Part.’
1811, March 17
Wrote the poem ‘The Curse of Minerva’ in Athens.
1811, June 13
Ended the ‘Grand Tour.’ Gordon Byron returned to England from Malta.
1811, August 1
Death of his mother, Katharine (Gordon) Gordon of Gight.
1812, February 27
Gave his first speech in the House of Lords.
1812, March 3
Published the first two cantons of ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.’ Made him a celebrity overnight.
1812
Set up Newstead Abbey for auction. But it failed to reach a satisfactory price.
1812
Had an affair with Caroline (Ponsonby) Lamb, a married woman. Caroline called Byron mad, bad and dangerous to know. The public reacted with shock to this liaison. Soon after, Gordon Byron began a relationship with Caroline’s mother-in-law, Lady Melbourne.
1812
Had an affair with Jane Elizabeth Scott, the Lady of Oxford.
1812
Wrote the poem ‘And Thou Art Dead, as Young and Fair.’
1812, Autumn
Wrote the satire ‘The Waltz.’
1813, Spring
Published the satire ‘The Waltz.’
1813, Summer
Had an affair with his half-sister Augusta Maria (Byron) Leigh.
Gordon Byron flirted with Lady Frances Wedderburn Webster.
1813, June 5
Published the poem ‘The Giaour.’ It mentions a vampire in lines 757 until 768.
1813, December 2
Published the poem ‘The Bride of Abydos.’
1814
Friendship with Thomas Moore began.
1814, January 22
Published the poem ‘The Corsair.’ Byron dedicated the tale to Irish poet Thomas Moore.
1814, April 15
Birth of Elizabeth Medora. Daughter of Augusta Maria (Byron) Leigh. Speculation arose Gordon Byron might have fathered the child. Colonel George Leigh officially assumed the role of her father, though.
1814, June 12
Wrote the poem ‘She Walks in Beauty.’ Byron attended a party on June 11 where he met Anne Beatrix Wilmot. Enthralled by her beauty, he penned the poem the next day.
1814, August 6
Published the poems ‘Lara, A Tale’ and ‘Jaqueline, A Tale.’
1815, January 2
Married Anne Isabella (Milbanke) Noel.
1815
Wrote the poem ‘My Soul Is Dark.’
1815, April
Isaac Nathan published ‘Hebrew Melodies,’ with a collection of 30 poems from Byron. Among the poems ‘She Walks in Beauty,’ ‘My Soul Is Dark,’ and ‘The Destruction of Sennacherib.’ Gordon Byron wrote them to accompany music composed by Nathan.
1815, December 10
Birth of his daughter, Augusta Ada.
1816, January 16
Anne Isabella (Milbanke) Noel took their daughter Ada and left Gordon Byron. She thought him insane.
1816, February 7
Published the poems ‘The Siege of Corinth’ and ‘Parisina.’
1816
Started an affair with Jane Mary (Claire) “Clara” Clairmont. She has the reputation of Mary Shelley’s stepsister.
1816
Charlotte Mardyn, an actress, perhaps served as a mistress of George Gordon Byron.
1816, March 17
Wrote the poem ‘Fare Thee Well.’
1816, March 21
Separated from Anne Isabella (Milbanke) Noel. Byron signed the Deed of Separation.
1816, March 29
Wrote the poem ‘A Sketch.’
1816, April
Rumours about his affair with his half-sister Augusta Maria (Byron) Leigh spread.
1816, April 25
Left England and never returned.
1816
Published ‘Domestic Pieces, or Poems on His Own Circumstances.’ It included eight poems, such as ‘Fare Thee Well.’
1816
Travelled to Belgium and visited Brussels, Bruges, and probably Waterloo.
1816, May 25
Arrived in Switzerland at the Hôtel d’Angleterre at Sécheron, Lake Geneva. In Switzerland, Byron met Percy Bysshe Shelley and his future wife, Mary.
1816, May
Started writing the third canto of ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.’
1816, June 10
Rented the Villa Diodati in Cologny. He stayed until autumn with his physician, Dr John William Polidori. The Shelleys rented a smaller house, Maison Chapuis, on the waterfront nearby. Jane Mary (Claire) “Clara” Clairmont, with whom Byron had an affair in London, joined the group.
1816, June 17
Rainy days kept Byron, Polidori, the Shelleys, and Clairmont indoors for three days at Villa Diodati. Due to the weather, the group exchanged ghost stories and fabricated imaginative tales. Mary wrote the first draft of ‘Frankenstein’ and George ‘Fragment of a Novel.’ Mary’s story featured a monster made up of body parts, and George’s a vampire. ‘Fragment of a Novel’ inspired Polidori to ‘The Vampyre’ in 1819.
1816, June 27
Wrote the poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’ at Hôtel de l’Ancre in Ouchy. Due to bad weather, Byron and Shelley spent two nights at the hotel.
1816, July
Wrote the poems ‘Darkness,’ ‘Prometheus,’ and ‘The Dream.’
1816, September 7
Mrs Davison spoke the poem ‘Monody on the Death of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan’ at Drury Lane Theatre in London. A mere two days later, the poem found its way into publication.
1816, September 17
Started writing the first two cantos of the dramatic poem ‘Manfred’ whilst touring the Bernese Alps.
1816, October 6
Travelled to Italy.
1816, Winter
Stayed in Venice. Gordon Byron started an affair with Margarita Cogni and had other relationships.
1816
Learned the Armenian language in Venice.
1816, December 5
Published ‘The Prisoner of Chillon and Other Poems.’ It included eleven poems, among them ‘The Dream,’ ‘Darkness,’ and ‘Prometheus.’
1817, January 12
Birth of his daughter, Alba Clara. Later on, her name turned into Allegra. Jane Mary Clairmont bore the name of her mother.
1817, February 28
Sent the poem ‘So, We’ll Go No More a Roving’ in a letter to Thomas Moore.
1817
Wrote the poem ‘When We Two Parted.’
1817
Co-authored ‘Grammar English and Armenian’ written by Aucher.
1817, April 2
Started writing the poem ‘Mazeppa.’
1817, May
Visited Rome.
1817, June
Published the dramatic poem ‘Manfred.’
1817, July 17
Published the poem ‘The Lament of Tasso.’
1817, September 6
Started writing the poem ‘Beppo: A Venetian Story.’
1817, October 12
Finished writing the poem ‘Beppo: A Venetian Story.’
1818, February 28
Published the poem ‘Beppo: A Venetian Story.’
1818, August
The Shelley’s, Clairmont, and Clara Alba visited Gordon Byron in Venice. Claire Clairmont left Clara Alba, Allegra, in Lord Byron’s care.
1818, September
Wrote the first canto of ‘Don Juan.’
1818, September 26
Finished writing the poem ‘Mazeppa.’
1818, Autumn
Sold Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire for £94’500, about €8’079’182 in 2024. Thomas Wildman, who also acted as the agent, bought the property.
1818, December
Started writing the second canto of ‘Don Juan.’
1819
Wrote the fourth canto of ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.’
1819
Wrote the poem ‘Stanzas for Music.’
1819, February
Left Venice and travelled to Ravenna. Due to his mistress, Countess Teressa Guiccioli, Gordon Byron left Venice.
1819
Published ‘Manfred,’ ‘Cain,’ and ‘The Deformed Transformed.’
1819
Included quotations in ‘A Grammar Armenian and English.’
1819, June
Wrote the tale ‘The Prophecy of Dante,’ dedicating it to Countess Teresa Guiccioli.
1819, June 28
Published the poem ‘Mazeppa,’ ‘Ode to Venice,’ and a short prose of ‘A Fragment.’
1819, July 15
Published the first two cantos of ‘Don Juan.’
1819
Wrote ‘Ravenna Diary,’ ‘My Dictionary,’ and ‘Recollections.’
1819, October
Received visits from Percy Bysshe Shelley and Thomas Moore. George Gordon Byron entrusted Thomas Moore with ‘Byron’s Memoires.’
1819, Winter
Wrote the third and fourth canto of ‘Don Juan.’
1820s
1820, July 17
Completed the tragedy ‘Marino Faliero, Doge of Venice.’
1820, October
Started writing the fifth canto of ‘Don Juan.’
1821, January 13
Started writing the tragedy ‘Sardanapalus.’
1821, April 21
Published the tragedy ‘Marino Faliero, Dodge of Venice’ with ‘The Prophecy of Dante.’
1821, May 7
Started writing the poem ‘The Vision of Judgment.’
1821, May 28
Finished writing the tragedy ‘Sardanapalus.’
1821, June 12
Started writing the tragedy ‘The Two Foscari.’
1821, July 9
Finished writing the tragedy ‘The Two Foscari.’
1821, July 16
Started writing ‘Cain, a Mystery.’
1821
Finished writing cantos six to twelve of ‘Don Juan.’
1821
Compiled the ‘English Armenian Dictionary’ and wrote the preface.
1821, August 8
Published the third, fourth, and fifth canto of ‘Don Juan.’
1821, September 9
Finished writing ‘Cain, a Mystery.’
1821, October 4
Finished writing ‘The Vision of Judgment.’
1821, October 9
Started writing the poem ‘Heaven and Earth.’
1821, October 23
Finished writing the poem ‘Heaven and Earth.’
1821, November
Left Ravenna and travelled to Pisa to join the Shelleys. Countess Teressa Guiccioli followed Gordon Byron.
1821, December 18
Started writing the play ‘Werner or the Inheritance.’
1821, December 19
Published the tragedy ‘The Two Foscari,’ ‘Sardanapalus,’ and ‘Cain, a Mystery.’
1822, January
Thomas Moore sold ‘Byron’s Memoires’ to publisher John Murray. After Byron’s death, the manuscript faced condemnation as unworthy and met the flames.
1822, January 20
Finished writing the play ‘Werner or the Inheritance.’
1822, April 20
Death of his daughter, Alba Clara, Allegra, Byron.
1822, June
Started writing the sixth canto of ‘Don Juan.’
1822
Wrote the drama ‘The Deformed Transformed.’
1822, Summer
Started a short-lived newspaper named ‘The Liberal’ with John Hunt and Percey Shelley.
1822, July 8
His close friend Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned in a boat accident.
1822, September
Lived at Genoa for some time, accompanied by his mistress, Countess Teresa Guiccioli.
1822, October 15
Published the poem ‘The Vision of Judgment’ in the newspaper ‘The Liberal.’
1822, November 23
Published the play ‘Werner or the Inheritance.’
1822, December
Started writing the poem ‘The Age of Bronze.’
1823, January 10
Finished writing the poem ‘The Age of Bronze.’ Lord Byron also finished writing the first canto of ‘The Island or Christian and His Comrades.’
1823, March
Completed writing canto sixteen of ‘Don Juan.’
1823, June 26
Published the poem ‘The Island or Christian and his Comrades.’
1823, July 15
Published cantos six, seven, and eight of ‘Don Juan.’
1823, July 16
Sailed from Genoa to Kefalonia in the Ionian Islands. Gordon Byron wanted to help the Greeks in their War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
1823, August 4
Arrived at Kefalonia in the Ionian Islands.
1823, August 29
Published cantos nine, ten, and eleven of ‘Don Juan.’
1823
Spent £4’000, about €475’167 in 2024, to refit the Greek fleet.
1823, December 17
Published cantos twelve, thirteen, and fourteen of ‘Don Juan.’
1823, December 28
Travelled to the mainland of Greece.
1824, January 5
Arrived at Missolonghi.
1824
The Souliotes demanded payment owed to them by the Greek government. Byron gave them £6’000, about €657’391 in 2024.
1824, February 15
Gordon Byron fell ill. Sent the Souliotes, who demanded more money, home. Byron remarked concerning the Souliotes: “I will have nothing more to do with the Suliotes-they may go to the Turks or the devil…they may cut me into more pieces than they have dissensions among them, sooner than change my resolution.”
1824, February 20
Published the drama ‘The Deformed Transformed.’
1824, March
Formed the “Byron brigade” of 30 philhellene officers and 200 men, all paid by Byron.
1824, March 26
Published cantos fifteen and sixteen of ‘Don Juan.’
1824, April 19
Byron caught a cold, and the treatment of his illness weakened him further. George Gordon Byron died at Missolonghi, Greece.
He lies at rest at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, England.
* Sources: ‘Byron’s Travels: Poems, Letters, and Journals’ by Everyman’s Library Classics Series and ‘The Works of Lord Byron’ by Ernest Hartley Coleridge.
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