Catherine Byron Letters: Persons
Correspondence from the John Murray
Archive
Abercromby, Margaret Keith
The youngest daughter of General James Abercromby (1706-81) of Glasshaugh, Banffshire;
she was a correspondent and probably a relation of Catherine Byron through the Duffs of
Fetteresso.
Abercromby, Thomas St Clair
The eldest surviving son of General James Abercromby (1706-81) of Glasshaugh, Banffshire;
educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, he was chaplain to the 12th Regiment of Foot (1774) and died at Rome.
Barrow, Richard
Educated at Sedbergh School and at St John's College, Cambridge, he was the schoolmaster
at Southwell, Nottinghamshire and vicar-choral of Southwell (1776-1838). He was the father
of William Hodgson Barrow MP (1784-1865)
Bentinck, William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-, third duke of
Portland
The son of the second duke (d. 1762); allied with William Pitt, he was lord lieutenant of
Ireland (1782), chancellor of Oxford University (1792), home secretary (1794-1801), and
prime minister (1783, 1807).
Birch, John
He was John Hanson's law partner in Chancery Lane to 1810.
Bowles, William Lisle
An English poet and critic; he wrote of Fourteen Sonnets, elegiac and
descriptive, written during a Tour (1789), edited the Works of
Alexander Pope, 10 vols (1806), and issued pamphlets contributing to the
subsequent Pope controversy.
Boyce, Francis
He was Byron's valet at Cambridge, who he had transported for theft in 1807.
Brabazon, John Chambré, tenth earl of Meath
The son of the eighth earl of Meath (d. 1790); he succeeded his brother in 1797 and was
lord lieutenant of County Dublin. He was made a British peer in 1831.
Brabazon [née Chaworth], Hon. Juliana,
countess of Meath
The daughter of Patrick Chaworth, third viscount Chaworth; in 1682 she married Chambre
Brabazon, fifth earl of Meath (d. 1715).
Brothers, Benjamin
He was the Nottingham upholsterer who furnished Newstead Abbey, one of Byron's major
creditors. The firm was dissolved in 1840, possibly by Brothers' son, also named
Benjamin.
Brunton [née Balfour], Mary
Scottish novelist; daughter of Colonel Thomas Balfour, she married Alexander Brunton in
1798 and resided in Edinburgh; her first novel, Self-Control, was
published in 1811.
Butler, George
Educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, he succeeded Joseph Drury as headmaster at
Harrow (1805-29) after a contentious election and was dean of Peterborough
(1842-1853).
Byron [née Gordon], Catherine
The daughter of George Gordon of Gight; she married Capt. John Byron 12 May 1785 and was
the mother Lord Byron.
Byron [née Chaworth], Hon. Elizabeth,
baroness Byron
The daughter of the second viscount Chaworth; in 1660 she married William Byron, third
baron Byron.
Byron [née Berkeley], Lady
Frances
The daughter of William Berkeley, fourth baron Berkeley of Stratton (d. 1741) she was the
third wife of William, fourth baron Byron, married 1720.
Byron [née Levett], Hon. Frances
The daughter of Elton Levett, M.D. of Nottingham; she married the Hon. George Byron, son
of the fourth baron Byron. She was apparently the “cursed old woman” of Swine Green who was
the satirical object of Byron's first extant poem.
Byron, George Gordon, sixth baron Byron
The author of Childe Harold and Don
Juan.
Byron, Admiral John
The son of the fourth Baron Byron; in 1741 he was shipwrecked while serving as a
midshipman in the Pacific under Commodore Anson, an account of which he published as The Narrative of the Hon. John Byron (1768).
Byron, John
The dissolute son of Admiral John Byron; educated at Westminster School, he served in the
Coldstream Guards and was the father of Lord Byron and of Augusta Byron by a prior marriage
with Amelia Darcy, Baroness Darcy (1754-84).
Byron, William, fifth baron Byron
Byron's misanthropic great-uncle, from whom he inherited Newstead Abbey. He was the son
of the fourth baron (d. 1736) and as a young man served in the navy.
Byron, Hon. William
The son of William Byron, fifth Baron Byron; educated at Eton College, he was MP for
Morpeth (1774).
Byron, William
The son of William Byron (d. 1776) and grandson and heir of the fifth Lord Byron; he was
killed in action at Calvi in Corsica in July 1794.
Cavendish, William, fifth duke of Devonshire
Whig peer, the son of William Cavendish, fourth duke of Devonshire (d. 1764); a
fabulously wealthy but unsocial peer, in 1764 he married Lady Georgiana Spencer, who as
duchess became a renowned society hostess.
Chaworth [née Bainbridge], Anne
The daughter of a farmer, in 1785 she married George Chaworth of Annesley Park (d. 1791)
and was the mother of Byron's early love, Mary Ann Chaworth (1785-1832).
Chaworth, William, second viscount Chaworth
He was born before 1619 and married Elizabeth Noel; he was the father of the Elizabeth
Chaworth (1632-1683) who married the third baron Byron.
Clarke, Hewson
The Cambridge-educated son of a barber, the editor of The Scourge
(1811-12) and contributor to The Satirist (1807-14) was an early
mocker of Lord Byron; later in life he wrote a continuation of Hume's History of England, 2 vols (1832).
Clay, Mr
Not identified; he was the tenant at Newstead Abbey, 1801-02.
Clerk [née Duff], Helen
The daughter of James Duff of Craigston; in 1761 she married the Edinburgh physician
David Clerk (1724-68).
Clerk-Rattray, James
The son of the Edinburgh physician David Clerk (1724-68); he was a Scottish advocate,
sheriff-depute of Edinburgh (1794-1809), baron of the exchequer (1809) and friend of Sir
Walter Scott.
Darcy [née Doublet], Mary, countess of
Holderness
Mary Doublet married Robert Darcy, fourth earl of Holderness in 1743; she was the
grandmother of Augusta Leigh.
Dearden, James
Of The Orchard, near Rochdale; in 1823 he purchased the Rochdale property from Lord
Byron, which he had been mining throughout the interminable lawsuit. Catherine Byron
described him as “the greatest Scoundrel on Earth.”
Drury, Henry Joseph Thomas
The eldest son of Joseph Drury, Byron's headmaster; he was fellow of King's College,
Cambridge and assistant-master at Harrow from 1801 to 1841. In 1808 he married Ann Caroline
Tayler, whose sisters married Drury's friends Robert Bland and Francis Hodgson.
Drury, Joseph
Educated at Westminster and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was Byron's instructor at
Harrow School where he was headmaster from 1784 to 1805.
Farquhar, James
Of Johnston Lodge, Laurencekirk; educated at Aberdeen University, he was proctor of
Doctors’ Commons (1788-1833) and a Tory MP for Aberdeen Burghs (1802-18) and Portarlington
(1824-30). He assisted Catherine Byron in her son's affairs.
France, Thomas
He was a solicitor who worked in the office of John Hanson and afterwards in partnership
with William Henry Palmer. He retired in 1852.
Garrow, Sir William
English barrister; educated at Lincoln's Inn, he was a Whig MP for Gatton (1805),
solicitor-general (1812), attorney-general (1813), and baron of the Exchequer
(1817-32).
George III of Great Britain, King
He was king of Great Britain (1760-1820) succeeded by his son George IV who was regent
from 1810.
Grant, Sir James, eighth baronet
Scottish agricultural improver; educated at Westminster School and at Christ's College,
Cambridge, he was MP for Elgin and Forres (1761-68) and Banff (1790-95), and
lord-lieutenant of Invernessshire (1794-1809).
Grant, Sir William
After education at King's College, Aberdeen and military service in Canada he was a Tory
MP (1790-1812) and master of the rolls (1801-17).
Gray, William
He was a jeweler and culter in New Bond Street in partnership with his brother Robert;
their clients included the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York.
Greville, Henry Francis
The son of Fulke Greville (1717-1805), he was a military officer, man of fashion, and
founder of the Pic-Nic Society and the Argyle Institution (1808).
Hanson, Elizabeth
The spouse of Lord Byron's longtime solicitor and business agent; they were married in
1787.
Hanson, Hargreaves
Byron's classmate at Harrow, he was the son of Byron's longtime solicitor and business
agent. He died young of consumption.
Hanson, John
He was Lord Byron's longtime solicitor and business agent, notorious for neglecting his
affairs. In 1798 he was appointed one of Byron's guardians; in 1824 he would be one of
Byron's executors.
Hendrie, Mr
Possibly a son of the London perfumer Lewis Hendrie (d. 1790); the family firm existed
well into the nineteenth century.
Hepburn [née Gordon], Catherine
The daughter of Alexander Gordon, Lord Rockville (1739-92); in 1800 she married
Robert Hepburn of Clerkington (1766-1846).
Hepburn, Robert
Of Clerkington, Midlothian, the son of Robert Hepburn (d. 1798); he was a landowner and philanthropist.
Hobhouse, John Cam, baron Broughton
The founder of the Cambridge Whig Club, after traveling with Lord Byron in the orient he
was a radical MP for Westminster (1820-33) and MP for Nottingham (1834-47) and Harwich
(1848-51). He was Byron's executor.
Hodgkinson, George
He was a Southwell, Nottinghamshire attorney. His sister Mary (d. 1801) married the Rev.
Richard Barrow. His diaries were published in 2011.
Howard, Frederick, fifth earl of Carlisle
The son of the fourth earl (d. 1758); he was appointed Lord Byron's guardian in 1799;
they did not get along. He published a volume of Poems (1773) that
included a translation from Dante.
Howard [née Byron], Hon. Isabella, countess
of Carlisle
The second wife of the fourth earl of Carlisle (1694-1758); she was the daughter of
William Byron, fourth lord Byron. In 1759 she was remarried to Sir William Musgrave, sixth
baronet (1735-1800).
Jeffrey, Francis, Lord Jeffrey
Educated at Glasgow University and at Edinburgh University, he was a barrister, Whig MP,
and co-founder and editor of the Edinburgh Review (1802-29). As a
reviewer he was the implacable foe of the Lake School of poetry.
Lauder, Frances
The daughter and co-heir of Cornelius Launder (d. 1806) who was high sheriff of
Nottingham in 1775; she and her sister Ursula (afterwards Norton) were tenants of Newstead
Abbey in 1802-03.
Laurie, John
Of Bartholomew's Close, London; he was a manufacturer of medical instruments who made the
truss for Byron's foot. He married Fanny, an illegitimate daughter of Sir John Guise,
baronet, of Highnam Court, Gloucestershire. Marchand gives his name as “Maurice.”
Leigh [née Byron], Hon. Augusta
Mary
Lord Byron's half-sister; the daughter of Amelia Darcy, Baroness Conyers, she married
Lieutenant-Colonel George Leigh on 17 August 1807.
Leigh [née Byron], Frances
The daughter of Admiral John Byron and Sophia Trevanion; in 1770 she married General
Charles Leigh (d. 1815). She was Byron's aunt and Augusta Leigh's mother-in-law.
Massingberd [née Waterhouse], Elizabeth
Hawksmore
A Nottinghamshire woman, she was the widow of the naval captain Thomas Massingberd when
in 1802 Catherine Byron rented from her in Piccadilly. When Byron stayed with her in 1806
she led him into entanglements with money-lenders.
Maurice, Thomas
A poet and orientalist educated under Samuel Parr at Stanmore, and at Oxford; he was
assistant-keeper of manuscripts in the British Museum.
Mealey, Owen
Byron's steward at Newstead Abbey, who lived at the gatehouse, known as the “Hutt.” He
was appointed by John Hanson in 1798 and dismissed in 1815. His will was proved 22 August
1823.
Milne, James
A London tailor in Lower Grosvenor-Street, he was one of Lord Byron's creditors. In 1786
he had bailed Byron's father out of King's Bench Prison.
More, Hannah
English bluestocking writer and advocate for Christian morality; a founder of the
Religious Tract Society (1799) and author of Coelebs in Search of a
Wife (1808).
Morgan, Sir Charles, first baronet
Educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford, he was an English barrister
and MP for Brecon borough (1778-87) and Brecknockshire (1787-1806). He changed his name
from Gould to Morgan when he succeeded his brother-in-law in 1792.
Murray, Joe
Byron's elderly steward at Newstead Abbey who had served under the previous lord
Byron.
Musters, John
Of Colwick Hall, Nottinghamshire; educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, he
married Mary Chaworth, the then object of Byron's affections, in 1805. His mother, a
society beauty painted by Joshua Reynolds, had a scandalous reputation.
Musters [née Chaworth], Mary Ann
The daughter of George Chaworth (d. 1791) and grand-niece of the Chaworth killed by
“Wicked Jack” Byron; she was the object of Byron's affections before and after she married
John Musters in 1805.
Norton [née Lauder], Ursula
The daughter and co-heir of Cornelius Launder of Elton, Nottinghamshire (d. 1806); in
1807 she became the first wife of William Fletcher Norton (1781-1865), an illegitimate son
of the second baron Grantley.
Norton, William, second baron Grantley
Of Grantley Hall, the son of the first baron (d. 1789); educated at Harrow and at St
John's College, Cambridge, he was minister to Switzerland (1765-83) and MP for Richmond
(1768-74), Wigtown Burghs (1774-75), Richmond (1775-80), Guildford (1782-84), and Surrey
(1784-89).
Norton, William Fletcher
Of Elton Hall, Nottinghamshire, an illegitimate son of the second baron Grantley; he was
a director of the Nottingham Canal Company.
Osborne [née Anguish], Catherine, duchess of
Leeds
The daughter of Thomas Anguish; in 1788 she became the second wife of Francis Godolphin
Osborne, fifth duke of Leeds. She was governess to Princess Caroline (1813) and mistress of
the robes to Queen Adelaide.
Parkyns, Augustus
The third son of George Parkyns, and grandson Sir Thomas Parkyns, second baronet, of
Bunny; he served as major in the Derbyshire militia and died in debt in or before
1814.
Parkyns, Elizabeth Ann
The daughter of the Nottingham painter George Isham Cooper; she and her cousin Frances
Parkyns were childhood friends of Byron.
Parkyns, Frances Bridget
A childhood friend of Lord Byron who stayed with the Parkyns family in 1799 while his
foot was being tended. She was the daughter of Augustus Parkyns, nephew of Sir Thomas
Parkyns of Bunny Hall, whose wife Frances was the sister of Sir John Borlase Warren.
Pigot, Elizabeth Bridget
Byron's early friend who lived with her mother and brothers at Southwell Green where
Byron visited his mother at Burgage Manor.
Pitt the younger, William
The second son of William Pitt, earl of Chatham (1708-1778); he was Tory prime minister
1783-1801 and from 1804-06.
Pringle [née Macleod], Lady Elizabeth
The daughter of Norman MacLeod of MacLeod (1706-72) by his second wife; in
1767 she married Sir James Pringle of Stichill, fourth baronet (1726-1809).
Rushton, Robert
The son of a Newstead tenant, he was Byron's English servant who accompanied him as far
as Gibraltar on Byron's first journey.
Rushton, Samuel
The father of Byron's servant, Robert Rushton; he a tenant farmer at Newstead Abbey who
left when Thomas Claughton raised rents in 1814.
Scott, John, first earl of Eldon
Educated at Oxford and at the Middle Temple, he was a barrister, MP (1783-99), and lord
chancellor (1801-27). He was legal counsel to the prince of Wales and an active opponent of
the Reform Bill.
Scott, Sir Walter, baronet
Scottish poet, novelist, antiquary, biographer, editor, and sheriff.
Seward, Anna
An English poet, patron, and letter-writer who was the center of a literary circle at
Lichfield. Her Poetical Works, 3 vols (1810) was edited by Walter
Scott.
Sheldrake, Timothy
He was a London instrument-maker who constructed an apparatus for Byron's lame
foot.
Sykes, James
Of Arundel Street, London, Navy agent; he was the brother of Admiral John Sykes
(1773–1858); in 1801 his sister Sarah married Rear-Admiral Richard Byron (1769-1837). John
Addington Symonds was a grandson.
Watson of Torsonce, Hugh
He was writer to the signet in Edinburgh (1797) and Catherine Byron's Scottish
solicitor.
Watson, James
He was writer to the signet in Edinburgh (1770) and Catherine Byron's Scottish
solicitor.
Wylde, William
Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was a landowner, magistrate, militia colonel
and from 1806 a Southwell banker in partnership with his son John Charles.
Yelverton, Henry Edward Gould, nineteenth baron Grey de
Ruthyn
The lessee of Newstead Abbey; baptized Henry Edward Gould, he changed his name to
Yelverton in 1799 when he succeeded his grandfather in the title. He married Ann Maria
Kelham, 21 June 1809.