George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known as Lord Byron, was a pivotal figure in the Romantic movement, celebrated as one of the greatest British poets. His best-known works, including the extensive narratives Don Juan and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, along with the shorter lyrics in Hebrew Melodies, continue to captivate audiences.

Byron's life was marked by scandals, exile, and excess, earning him the reputation of being dark, seductive, and romantic among his peers. The archetype of the brooding Byronic hero, inspired by his persona, profoundly influences modern narratives. His education was completed at Trinity College, Cambridge, after which he embarked on extensive travels across Europe. Byron spent seven years in Italy, living in Venice, Ravenna, and Pisa, in self-imposed exile after fleeing England to escape threats of lynching.

During his time in Italy, Byron frequently visited his friend and fellow poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Later, he actively participated in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, leading a campaign during which he succumbed to a fever contracted after the sieges of Missolonghi, at the age of 36. In Greece, Byron is revered as a national hero.

Byron's legacy extends beyond his poetry. His daughter, Ada Lovelace, emerged as a pioneering figure in computer programming, based on her work with Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Byron also fathered extramarital children, including Allegra Byron, who died in childhood, and possibly Elizabeth Medora Leigh, the daughter of his half-sister, Augusta Leigh.