George Gordon, Lord Byron’s (1788-1824) adventurous life overshadows his work: he became a British peer at age ten, traveled widely, was cast out of society for scandalous love affairs, and died while preparing for battle. However, his Romantic poetry has inspired writers, composers, moody loners, and rebels around the world. Artists as diverse as French composer Hector Berlioz and Russian poet Alexander Pushkin have cited his work as a major influence.