 |
 |
People
Philhellenes (1821-1829)
Lord Byron (1788-1824)
|
|
Lord George Gordon Noel Byron (1788-1824) [Samuel Gridley Howe]. English lyrical poet and philhellene. Byron is regarded as one of the greatest poets of his time. He agreed to the proposal of the London "Greek Committee" (a society of English liberals and philhellenes) that he should be their representative in Greece, loaded the brig (a two-masted sailing ship) "Hercules" {Iraklis ~ Ηρακλής} with arms, provisions and medical supplies, and arrived in Argostoli {Αργοστόλι} in August 1823.
He stayed in the village of Metaksata {Μεταξάτα} for five months until January 1824 when he went to Mesolongki {Μεσολόγγι}, where all the Greeks gave him a very warm welcome. His presence there had a favourable effect on the philhellenic movement.
He tried to construct defences around Mesolongki and create a center of artillery. He gathered a force of 500 men from Souli {Σούλι}, whom he provisioned at his own expense, and with whom he planned to take Nafpaktos {Ναύπακτος}.
However, the lack of discipline which was evident resulted in the operation being cancelled. Indeed, Byron frequently stressed that; "The Greeks have need of a lot of things, but more than anything of concord and discipline" [Civil Wars].
Byron was appointed Colonel of Artillery and awarded Greek citizenship. The people of Mesolongki declared him a citizen of Mesolongki and benefactor of the town. The Greek Committee elected him member of the committee so that he could manage the first loan. Furthermore, Byron sent Mavrokordatos [People] 4,000 pounds for maintenance work on the fleet.
Various problems encountered on a daily basis caused him disappointment which, coupled with the marshland climate of Mesolongki, exacerbated the already fragile state of his health. In mid February 1824 he fell ill with malaria, finally succumbing to the disease on April 19th.
In gratitude to the Philhellenes, Greece has erected monuments and busts in many different places. The grandest of these is the monument erected in tribute to Lord Byron in the capital city near Zappion {Ζάππειον} Hall.
Lord George Gordon Noel Byron (1788-1824)
05-11-2004