George Augustus Selwyn

Born in 1719, George Augustus Selwyn was an English politician and noted man of fashion whose reputation rests largely on his sparkling correspondence. He was educated at Eton and went on to hold seats in the House of Commons, where he remained a familiar figure in public life for decades.

Selwyn moved in some of the most influential and colorful circles of Georgian Britain. He was known for his wit, sociability, and gift for conversation, and his letters became famous for their humor, gossip, and vivid glimpses of the people around him. They have helped preserve his place in literary as well as political history.

He died in 1791. Although he did not become famous for major political achievements, his personality, friendships, and remarkable letters have made him one of the most memorable social chroniclers of 18th-century England.