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Lot Essay
Greece was the final chapter of Lord Byron's colourful life. By 1823 Byron had grown bored with his life in Genoa, so when the representatives of the movement for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire contacted him to ask for his support, he accepted. Byron left Genoa on the Hercules, arriving at Kefalonia where he spent £4000 refitting the Greek fleet, before sailing for Messolonghi in western Greece to join Alexandros Mavrokordatos, leader of the Greek rebel forces.
Mavrokordatos and Byron planned to attack the Turkish-held fortress of Lepanto, at the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth. Byron employed a fire-master to prepare artillery and took part of the rebel army under his own command and pay, despite his lack of military experience, but before the expedition could sail he fell ill. He made a partial recovery, but in early April he caught a violent cold. The cold became a violent fever and he died on 19th April 1824.
Mavrokordatos and Byron planned to attack the Turkish-held fortress of Lepanto, at the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth. Byron employed a fire-master to prepare artillery and took part of the rebel army under his own command and pay, despite his lack of military experience, but before the expedition could sail he fell ill. He made a partial recovery, but in early April he caught a violent cold. The cold became a violent fever and he died on 19