William Byron, 4th Baron Byron William Byron, 4th Baron Byron William Byron, 4th Baron Byron (4 January 1669/70 – 8 August 1736) was an English nobleman, politician, peer, and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark. Byron was the son of William Byron, 3rd Baron Byron and the Hon. Elizabeth Chaworth. He succeeded to the title of 4th Baron Byron in 1695 upon the death of his father. Lord Byron died on 8 August 1736, and was succeeded by his fourth (but oldest surviving) son William Byron, 5th Baron Byron (born 1722). Lord Byron married Lady Mary Egerton, daughter of John Egerton, 3rd
Lord Byron became very active, publishing an annual journal. Thirty-six Byron Societies function throughout the world, and an International Conference takes place annually. Byron exercised a marked influence on Continental literature and art, and his reputation as a poet is higher in many European countries than in Britain or America, although not as high as in his time, when he was widely thought to be the greatest poet in the world. Byron's writings also inspired many composers. Over forty operas have been based on his works, in addition to three operas about Byron himself (including Virgil Thomson's "Lord Byron"). His poetry was