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Lord Byron, also known as George Noel Gordon, was born in 1788. His father, a sea captain, traveled often, leaving George with his high-strung mother. His childhood in Scotland was troubled. Molested by his alcoholic governess at the age of 9, Byron was also rumored to have been sexually abused by a male relative as well. Combine this early sexual abuse with his insecurity about his club foot; it is no wonder that he had so many problems with his personal relationships.

Perhaps it was this early abuse that caused Byron to spend most of his life engaging in promiscuous affairs, abusing alcohol and avoiding serious relationships. After he inherited the title from his great-uncle at the age of ten, his mother moved them to England. The title afforded Byron a better education, private schools but it could not save him from the ridicule brought to him because of his lameness.

Several doctors attempted to cure' his lameness through quack treatments that caused significant pain and gave him little aid. He grew to distrust doctors but finally received some help by the use of a corrective brace in 1799. Byron loved private school and it was rumored that he started a sexual affair with another male student. Yet, Byron's romantic obsessions were not limited to males. His attempt in 1803 to seduce his cousin, Mary Chatworth, ended in rejection. This crushing set down led to a plethora of sad poetry.

Between 1806-1809, Byron published his first book of poetry, Hours of Idleness, his first satire, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers and started down a road of sexual exploration that shocked society. In 1809, he started a tour of Europe, more to avoid creditors and censure than to explore the world.

On this tour, he began writing one of his well-loved autobiographical piece,Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. He traveled extensively and there for the first time, felt accepted in Greece. From the moment he left, he yearned to return. The people, the culture, suited Byron's lifestyle.

It was in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, that the first clear idea of the Byronic Hero emerged. Until this time period, heroes were shining, virtuous and obedient creatures. The Byronic Hero was dark, self-destructive, uninterested in rank, full of passion and usually hiding a terrible secret. This dark hero was larger than life, captivating and unlike many of the perfect heroes before, he was very relatable to the general public.

Bryon's mother passed away in 1811. By 1812, he had started arguing liberal politics

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