Byron

Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron, 1788–1824) was a leading figure of the English Romantic movement and one of the most celebrated poets of the nineteenth century. Born in London and educated at Harrow and Cambridge, he inherited his title and estate at the age of ten. Renowned for his striking appearance, flamboyant lifestyle, and scandalous private life, Byron achieved international fame and embodied the passionate, rebellious spirit later described as "Byronic."

His reputation was established by the first two cantos of "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" (1812), inspired by his travels through the Mediterranean. He subsequently published popular verse tales including "The Giaour," "The Corsair," and "Lara," followed by the dramatic poems "Manfred" (1817) and "Cain" (1821). His masterpiece, the satirical epic "Don Juan" (1819–1824), is widely considered one of the greatest comic poems in English literature. His shorter lyrics, such as "She Walks in Beauty" and "When We Two Parted," remain enduring classics.

A passionate advocate of liberty, Byron supported the Italian Carbonari movement and later joined the Greek War of Independence, dying at Missolonghi in 1824 at the age of thirty-six. His life and works profoundly influenced European literature, art, and music.