The Romantic Movement was known for many things. From a longing for the natural to the musical qualities of the works, to even writers exploring the darker side of humanity, it was, at the very least, an interesting period for literature. However, many agree that there was one writer who drew both affection and ire from many of the general public. This writer was Lord Byron.

Lord Byron, or George Gordon Byron, was born on January 22nd, 1788. He was the son of Captain John “Mad Jack” Byron, who had managed to throw his entire family into debt. Byron’s mother, Catherine was an heiress and was the Captain’s second wife. The couple’s marriage fell apart due to John’s inability to save money and Catherine’s refusal to say no, which unfortunately was passed to her son. When his father died of tuberculosis, Byron inherited the title of Barony of Byron of Rochdale.

Byron went to the Aberdeen Grammar School during his youth, where he learned to control some of his excessive behavior. However, Catherine withdrew him from school, and as such, he lacked much of the education he needed to succeed. Eventually, he went to Trinity College at Cambridge where he met John Edleston and became close friends with him. What’s more, he engaged in several sexual relations with other students. When he wasn’t studying, he would be writing poetry and with the help of his friends, he published his first collection of poetry titled Fugitive Pieces when he was only 17. It was an accomplishment, despite the fact it was supposedly recalled later on.

Soon, Byron attracted attention with the publishing of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. He was praised for his work and cemented his reputation during the Romantic Movement. It was then he first met Lady Caroline Lamb, as well as other women, who would later become his lovers. However, when his debts started catching up to him, he decided to marry Annabella Millbanke, hoping his marriage would help settle some of his debts. Despite this, Byron refused to give up his sexual relations, putting a strain on the couple. It didn’t help that Annabella thought Byron was insane, and after a few years, decided to divorce him and take custody of their daughter, Ada, who would later become one of England’s greatest mathematicians.

Afterward, Byron would travel to many places, including Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy, where he was acquainted with the Shelleys. He was inspired by these travels and even adopted a young Muslim girl named Hato in Greece. However, he sent the child to Kephalonia out of concern for her safety because of the tensions between Muslim Turks and Orthodox Greeks.

Byron has a laundry list of relationships and scandals. For instance, when he was eight, he recalled having a romantic attraction towards his cousins, Mary and Margaret. Byron’s lovers also include Jane Elizabeth Scott, or Lady Oxford, and Augusta Leigh, his sister. Byron was known to be attracted to young men, including Nicolo Giraud, a model for the artist Lusieri. When Byron died, he left approximately 7,000 pounds for him.

Byron left a legacy that’s, at the very least, interesting. In fact, the trope, the Byronic hero, often featured anti-villains who had strong ideas and were driven, though also flawed. Many of his major works include Don Juan and Manfred, and his protagonists reflected his own ideals. What’s more, he developed a reputation with other writers as a person who lived fast and died young. In other words, he was living the rockstar life of a writer.

Of course, nowadays many people don’t see it that way. The likes of Stephenie Meyer, JK Rowling, and certainly Stephen King would’ve gone the other way. Still, it was something.