Lord Byron (1788-1824) Lord Byron was born on January 22, 1788, on Holles Street, London. His parents, Catherine Gordon Byron and Jack "Mad Jack" Byron, had been living in France, but Catherine wanted their child born in England, so he was. She was a determined and frightening woman it was in her genes (www.byronjournal). Jack stayed in France, living in his sister's house, and died in 1791, possibly by suicide. Jack (George's father), or "Mad Jack," died at age 36. Catherine took her son to Scotland, where they soon realized he had a lame his foot. She had special boots made and arranged treatments for him, but Byron limped all of his life. He lived through his