Discover Notts > Famous people > Lord Byron Lord Byron - poet, rebel, champion of liberty… After winning early fame as the most fashionable poet of Georgian England, Byron's reputation turned from celebrity to notoriety. Exiled by hostile public opinion amid mounting debts and the aftermath of a disastrous marriage, his best known work, Don Juan, was written during extensive travels through Europe and the near East. Mad, bad and dangerous to know, the Romantic poet Lord Byron is famous the world over as a passionate lover, a political revolutionary and a man who inspired the Greeks to victory over Turkish rule. One of England’s greatest literary heroes, Byron’s first poem was written at the age of ten. It was about Nottingham, and his connection to the county is well documented. Particularly at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hucknall, the burial place of Lord Byron. Byron’s legacy went beyond his work. His daughter Ada, Countess of Lovelace, was a gifted mathematician who worked closely with Charles Babbage – the father of modern computers. Though she never met her father, Ada was laid to rest beside him in the family vault at St Mary's. Previously consigned to being overshadowed by her father’s literary genius and tumultuous love life, Ada took centre stage at the 2006 International Byron Festival in July, and celebrated Byron’s heritage in Nottinghamshire through a series of provocative lectures, community events and family fun. Central to the festival was Ada’s portrait by Margaret Carpenter. Usually on display at 10 Downing Street, the painting hung in St Mary’s for the duration of the festival. If you’re interested in exploring some of the Byron-related sites in Nottinghamshire, download the map below. Capital for learning | Famous people | Nottingham history | Interesting facts | The Dukeries | Postcards | Virtual tours | Videos | Souvenirs | Nottingham hotels | UK family holidays | Nottingham bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) | Nottingham holiday cottages |
