William Byron, 5th Baron Byron
Encyclopedia
William Byron, 5th Baron Byron (5 November 1722 – 19 May 1798), also known as "the Wicked Lord" and "the Devil Byron", was the poet George Gordon Byron
's great uncle. He was the son of William Byron, 4th Baron Byron
and his wife Hon. Frances Berkeley, a descendant of John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton
.
Lord Byron inherited his title upon the death of his father on 18 August 1736. With the title came responsibilities and he became Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
at the age of sixteen and at seventeen represented his family as a founding Governor of the Foundling Hospital
, a popular charity project to look after abandoned babies
. He went on to marry Elizabeth Shaw, daughter and heiress of Charles Shaw of Besthorpe
in Norfolk
, on 28 March 1747. The following month, he was elected Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England
, a position he held until 20 March 1752. He also served as Master of the Staghounds
from 1763 until 1765, when he began a descent into madness and scandal.
On 26 January 1765, Lord Byron killed his cousin and neighbour, William Chaworth, in a duel at the Stars and Garters Tavern in London
. The fight resulted from an argument the two had been engaged in over cups of wine, with both insisting they had more game on their estates. Lord Byron and his cousin retired to a dim room to resolve their disagreement and it was there that Lord Byron thrust his sword through Chaworth's stomach. Chaworth lived until the following day, expressing his disgust that he had not been of sound enough mind to insist they fight in a location outfitted with better lighting before finally succumbing to his injury. Lord Byron was tried for Chaworth's death, but under the statute of Edward VI he was found guilty only of manslaughter
and forced to pay a small fine. Upon returning home to Newstead Abbey
, he mounted the sword he used to kill Chaworth on the wall in his bedroom. It was at this time in his life that he was nicknamed "the Wicked Lord", a title he very much enjoyed.
Following his trial, Lord Byron's eccentricity further evolved. In one incident, he shot his coachman during a disagreement then heaved the body into the coach on top of his wife and took over the reins himself. He had a miniature castle built in the woods at Newstead and held lavish parties within its walls. He also oversaw the construction of two forts on the property and used them, in conjunction with a small cannon, to stage naval battles. He hesitated to travel away from Newstead Abbey, but when travel became necessary he did so under the alias of Waters. It was during this period that Elizabeth left him. Upon her departure, Byron took one of the servants as his mistress. The woman's name was Hardstaff, but she was known primarily as "Lady Betty".
The ruin of the Byron family wealth and property began when Lord Byron's son and heir (also named William) eloped with Juliana Byron, the daughter of Byron's younger brother, the naval
captain and later Vice-Admiral John Byron
. Lord Byron felt that intermarrying would produce children plagued with madness and strongly opposed the union. He also needed his son to marry well in order to escape the debt that had been incurred in the Byron name. When defied by his son, he became enraged and committed himself to ruining his inheritance so that, in the event of his death, his son would receive nothing but debt and worthless property. He laid waste to Newstead Abbey, allowing the house to fall into disrepair, cutting down the great stands of timber surrounding it, and killing over 2000 deer on the estate. He also illegally leased the coalmines in Rochdale
, an act that created an enormous financial burden for years to come.
His vicious plan, however, was thwarted when his son died in 1776. William also outlived his grandson, a young man who, at the age of twenty-two, was killed by cannon fire in 1794 while fighting in Corsica
. The legacy of misery was then left to his great nephew, George Gordon Byron
, who became the 6th Baron Byron when Lord Byron died on 21 May 1798, at the age of seventy-five. Upon his death, it is said that the great number of cricket
s he kept at Newstead left the estate in swarms. Lord Byron is buried in the Byron vault at Hucknall Torkard
in Nottinghamshire
.
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron, FRS , commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement...
's great uncle. He was the son of William Byron, 4th Baron Byron
William Byron, 4th Baron Byron
William Byron, 4th Baron Byron was Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark.-Life:Byron was the son of William Byron, 3rd Baron Byron and the Hon. Elizabeth Chaworth...
and his wife Hon. Frances Berkeley, a descendant of John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton
John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton
John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton was an English royalist soldier. From 1648 he was closely associated with James, Duke of York, and rose to prominence, fortune and fame.-First English Civil War:...
.
Lord Byron inherited his title upon the death of his father on 18 August 1736. With the title came responsibilities and he became Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at the age of sixteen and at seventeen represented his family as a founding Governor of the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
, a popular charity project to look after abandoned babies
Child abandonment
Child abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one's offspring with the intent of never again resuming or reasserting them. Causes include many social and cultural factors as well as mental illness. An abandoned child is called a foundling .-Causes:Poverty is often a...
. He went on to marry Elizabeth Shaw, daughter and heiress of Charles Shaw of Besthorpe
Besthorpe, Norfolk
Besthorpe is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, about a mile east of Attleborough, on the A11 road. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 561....
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, on 28 March 1747. The following month, he was elected Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England
Premier Grand Lodge of England
The Premier Grand Lodge of England was founded on 24 June 1717 as the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster and it existed until 1813 when it united with the Ancient Grand Lodge of England to create the United Grand Lodge of England. It was the first Masonic Grand Lodge to be created...
, a position he held until 20 March 1752. He also served as Master of the Staghounds
Master of the Staghounds
The Master of the Staghounds was a position in the British Royal Household, created in 1738 and responsible for overseeing the care of the Royal staghounds...
from 1763 until 1765, when he began a descent into madness and scandal.
On 26 January 1765, Lord Byron killed his cousin and neighbour, William Chaworth, in a duel at the Stars and Garters Tavern in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The fight resulted from an argument the two had been engaged in over cups of wine, with both insisting they had more game on their estates. Lord Byron and his cousin retired to a dim room to resolve their disagreement and it was there that Lord Byron thrust his sword through Chaworth's stomach. Chaworth lived until the following day, expressing his disgust that he had not been of sound enough mind to insist they fight in a location outfitted with better lighting before finally succumbing to his injury. Lord Byron was tried for Chaworth's death, but under the statute of Edward VI he was found guilty only of manslaughter
Manslaughter in English law
In the English law of homicide, manslaughter is a less serious offence than murder, the differential being between levels of fault based on the mens rea . In England and Wales, the usual practice is to prefer a charge of murder, with the judge or defence able to introduce manslaughter as an option...
and forced to pay a small fine. Upon returning home to Newstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian priory, is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron.-Monastic foundation:The priory of St...
, he mounted the sword he used to kill Chaworth on the wall in his bedroom. It was at this time in his life that he was nicknamed "the Wicked Lord", a title he very much enjoyed.
Following his trial, Lord Byron's eccentricity further evolved. In one incident, he shot his coachman during a disagreement then heaved the body into the coach on top of his wife and took over the reins himself. He had a miniature castle built in the woods at Newstead and held lavish parties within its walls. He also oversaw the construction of two forts on the property and used them, in conjunction with a small cannon, to stage naval battles. He hesitated to travel away from Newstead Abbey, but when travel became necessary he did so under the alias of Waters. It was during this period that Elizabeth left him. Upon her departure, Byron took one of the servants as his mistress. The woman's name was Hardstaff, but she was known primarily as "Lady Betty".
The ruin of the Byron family wealth and property began when Lord Byron's son and heir (also named William) eloped with Juliana Byron, the daughter of Byron's younger brother, the naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
captain and later Vice-Admiral John Byron
John Byron
Vice Admiral The Hon. John Byron, RN was a Royal Navy officer. He was known as Foul-weather Jack because of his frequent bad luck with weather.-Early career:...
. Lord Byron felt that intermarrying would produce children plagued with madness and strongly opposed the union. He also needed his son to marry well in order to escape the debt that had been incurred in the Byron name. When defied by his son, he became enraged and committed himself to ruining his inheritance so that, in the event of his death, his son would receive nothing but debt and worthless property. He laid waste to Newstead Abbey, allowing the house to fall into disrepair, cutting down the great stands of timber surrounding it, and killing over 2000 deer on the estate. He also illegally leased the coalmines in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, an act that created an enormous financial burden for years to come.
His vicious plan, however, was thwarted when his son died in 1776. William also outlived his grandson, a young man who, at the age of twenty-two, was killed by cannon fire in 1794 while fighting in Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. The legacy of misery was then left to his great nephew, George Gordon Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron, FRS , commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement...
, who became the 6th Baron Byron when Lord Byron died on 21 May 1798, at the age of seventy-five. Upon his death, it is said that the great number of cricket
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
s he kept at Newstead left the estate in swarms. Lord Byron is buried in the Byron vault at Hucknall Torkard
Hucknall
Hucknall, formerly known as Hucknall Torkard, is a town in Greater Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, in the district of Ashfield. The town was historically a centre for framework knitting and then for mining but is now a focus for other industries as well providing housing for workers in...
in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
.