John Byron (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Byron
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Lord Byron's father, Captain John "Mad Jack" Byron
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| Born | 1757 |
| Died | 2 August 1791 (aged 34) |
| Other names | Mad Jack |
| Alma mater | Westminster School |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Augusta Leigh George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron |
| Parent(s) | Vice-Admiral The Hon. John Byron Sophia Trevanion |
| Relatives | William Byron, 4th Baron Byron (paternal grandfather) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Captain |
Captain John Byron (1757 – 2 August 1791) was a British army officer. He is most famous for being the father of the well-known poet, Lord Byron. People sometimes called him "Mad Jack Byron," but this nickname became popular only after his death. His family often called him "Jack."
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Byron was born in 1757. He was the sixth child and the oldest son of Vice-Admiral John Byron and Sophia Trevanion. His grandfather was William Byron, 4th Baron Byron. John was baptized in Plymouth on March 17, 1757.
Later, his family moved to London. John went to school at Westminster School. This was a famous school.
He joined the Coldstream Guards, a part of the British Army. He became a captain. His regiment was sent to Philadelphia during the American Revolution. While there, he faced some financial difficulties.
Family and Marriages
John Byron married twice in his life. His first marriage was to Amelia Osborne. She was the daughter of Robert Darcy.
First Marriage: Amelia Osborne
In 1779, John Byron married Amelia Osborne in London. They had three children together. Sadly, two of their children, Sophia Georgina and an unnamed boy, died when they were very young. Their third child, Augusta Maria Byron, grew up and later married George Leigh. Amelia passed away in London in 1784.
Second Marriage: Catherine Gordon
After Amelia's death, John Byron married Catherine Gordon on May 17, 1785. Catherine was an heiress from Scotland. She had inherited land in Gight, Aberdeenshire. To claim her family's estate, Captain Byron took the last name Gordon for a time.
John and Catherine had one child. Their son, George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, was born on January 22, 1788. He would later become a very famous poet.
Later Years and Death
John Byron and Catherine tried to live in Aberdeen, Scotland. However, John had trouble managing money. He used up Catherine's family fortune. Eventually, he left his wife and young son in Scotland. He moved to France to live with his sister, Frances Leigh.
John Byron continued to struggle with his finances. He died in August 1791 in Valenciennes, France. He was only in his mid-thirties.
His son, Lord Byron, later said that his father had taken his own life. However, there is no proof of this from that time. John himself mentioned coughing up blood and losing weight. His sister described his "long and suffering illness." This suggests he likely died from a serious illness, possibly tuberculosis.
If John Byron had lived longer, he would have inherited his uncle's title as Lord Byron. Instead, this title went to his son, George, in 1798. George was ten years old at the time.
