Lord Byron

English poet and leading figure in the European Romantic Movement whose life was full of affairs and scandals (1788-1824). He was involved in revolutionary struggles in Italy and Greece.

World Heritage Sites connected to 'Lord Byron':

  • Acropolis Lived in Athens in 1810. Opposed Lord Elgin's removal of the Parthenon Marbles and wrote "The Curse of Minerva" to denounce Elgin's actions.; link
  • Venice and its Lagoon Lengthy visits in 1816 and 1818 writing several poems about the city. Learned Armenian at the monastery on San Lazzaro degli Armeni.
  • Westminster Took his seat in House of Lords in 1811 - defended the Luddites and opposed the established church. Died in Athens (suburb now called "Vyron") but his embalmed body was refused burial at "Poets' Corner" in Westminster Abbey for reasons of "questionable morality". He eventually got a memorial there in 1969!