Lady Caroline Lamb (1785-1828)
Byron's infamous lover
Although eccentric, controversial and lacking in formal education, Lady Caroline Lamb was also a confident, witty and well-read member of the aristocracy. After reading Lord Byron's 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' (1812) she became determined to meet the poet. When she did she fell obsessively in love with him, despite being married to William Lamb.
Lamb and Byron's short, heated and public affair scandalised society. After Byron ended their relationship she found it very difficult to accept it was over and continued to obsess over him. Once Byron had moved abroad, John Murray II acted as a middle man, dealing with her obsessive and eccentric behaviour. Lamb's first, semi-biographical, novel 'Glenarvon' (1816) offended many, including Byron.
Despite the Byron affair, William and Caroline Lamb stayed together. After her death William Lamb went on, as Lord Melbourne, to become Prime Minister and one of Queen Victoria's trusted advisers.
Highlighted items from the archive
NRA Name: Lamb, Lady Caroline (1785-1828) née Ponsonby, novelist.
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