John Claridge, Byron's unwanted friend

What is it about?

Byron had a number of favourites at Harrow and John Claridge seems to have been the least of them. Using Claridge's letters to the poet between 1808 and 1811 and Byron's own comments on him, I trace the friendship.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This is a byway of Byroniana and illustrates through a real life example Byron as seducer. Surprisingly for such a high octane person, he had quite a few dull friends and Claridge was just one of many.