• Name: Dyson, George
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: 24  March  1773
• Death Date: 17  May  1822
• Occupation: merchant

George Dyson was a merchant about whom little has been known. He has tended to be described as an artist because of the entries in Godwin's diary to 'Sit to Dyson', and it is probable that he had some artistic skill. Other than that, biographers have had little to go on, save for references to him in Godwin's letters, a great deal of which is very confusing. Clearly, the two men had an intense but often troubled relationship. However, there is a cache of papers relating to the Dyson family in the National Archive. They concern George and his brother Abraham, his mother and father, and his uncle Thomas, plus sundry relatives. Many of the papers relate to George Dyson's extended journey to Argentina and more widely in South America 1806-8, and then again until the early 1820s. He remains there until after the deaths of both his parents, which grieved him considerably. His correspondence is filled with filial duty and concern for his family, especially his brother Abraham who leads a largely dissolute life.

Godwin was very close to him in the 1790s and referred to him as one of his four principal oral instructors. The frequency of contact declines after 1800 possibly after a disagreement relating to Godwin's housekeeper Louisa Jones. Although biographers have claimed that Jones runs off with Dyson, it seems more probable that she married Henry Dibbin, an associate of (posibly a former schoolfriend) of Dyson, instead. Dyson's appearances in the diary do not cease overnight: contact with him declines towards the end of 1799 but there are occasional appearances until 1805. On the other hand, in October and November 1800 John Arnot writes to Godwin saying that 'I am sorry for what you tell me of Dyson and Louisa Jones. Can you give me their address?' MS. Abinger c.6, fol. 52r (and repeated almost verbatim in MS. Abinger c. 6, fols 82-3. It is possible that the relationship with Dibbin is subsequent to one with Dyson - but it seems much more likely that Godwin was misinformed or misled. Godwin evidently responded to Arnot that 'Louisa is some sort of bird of passage' according to a slightly later letter from Arnot. MS. Abinger, c. 6, fol 121r: 4 Jan. 1801.

The Abinger letters show that in the mid-1790s Dyson's address was Ironmonger's Hall, Fenchurch Street. The letters tell us little more about Dyson other than he had a tempestuous and passionate character that was, on the evidence of the diary, often in conflict with Godwin over a number of issues. They also reveal that he was a member of the Philomaths.

The National Archive cache suggests that Dyson's father Abraham became beadle of Ironmongers' Hall and that Dyson lived with his parents while an acquaintance with Godwin. According to letters in the National Archive, Dyson sailed for South America in 1806, returning in 1808, and then returning to Buenos Aires again in October 1808 He did not return from this trip until about 1821. The letters mention Hannah Godwin and commissions millinery from her. In 1812, he writes: 'Pray remember me to all these friends and particularly Miss Godwin . I have receiv'd several letters from her during my absence and learnt more from her respecting you than from yourselves...She is a good creature and has not been a favorite of fortune.' The letters also mention Dibbin from an early stage, as a close associate, possibly a schoolfriend from his days in Marlborough. Similarly, Tobin is mentioned a good deal, although it is unclear to which Tobin Dyson is referring.

If the identification of Dyson is correct, then Godwin first met him when he (Dyson) was fifteen, and his brother Abraham only 13. Moreover, it is possible that they were introduced to Godwin with a view to receiving instruction of some form. The suggestion is that George was apprenticed to Thomas Raikes (a merchant), who introduced him to Godwin. Godwin dines with Robinson and Raikes two weeks before his first meeting with Dyson. The two names appear adjacent to each other in one version of the 1796 list. In one of his letters from the 1810s Dyson refers to the death of Mrs Raikes and the undoubted impact this would have had on a man whom he holds in considerable respect.

While the filial character of Dyson's letters suggest that this cannot be quite the same person whom Godwin knows, there is no doubt as to the connection. Dyson is himself candid about his own mispent youth (in Godwin's company). In a letter to his brother in July 1811, George Dyson writes: 'I earnestly long for the arrival of the time when with the blessing of heaven I may be able at their sides (his parents) to watch over the debilitation of their declining, as they have done over the weakness and helplessness of my rising years; the necessities of which were prolonged in so unusual a degree by causes in which my own folly, pride and wilfulness were too much concerned.'

One especially entertaining letter from Dyson in July 1798 talks of his journey from London into west Wales. He is absent from Godwin's diary from 23 June to 19 September 1798.

• MS. Abinger c. 1, fols. 123-24: 1792-1797
• MS. Abinger b. 1, fol.10: 21 March 1792
• MS. Abinger c. 2, fols. 132-3: 30 November 1795
• MS. Abinger c. 2, fols. 112-13: 26 September 1795
• MS. Abinger c. 2, fols. 116-17: 28 September1795
• MS. Abinger c. 54, fols. 55-7: 16 February 1799
• MS. Abinger c. 22, fols. 101-3: 16 February 1799
• MS. Abinger c. 4, fols. 86-7: 18 February 1799
• MS. Abinger c. 22, fols. 104-5: 19 February 1799
• MS. Abinger c. 22, fol. 106: 19 February 1799
• MS. Abinger c. 5, fols. 54-5: December 1799
• MS. Abinger c. 31, fol. 20-33: 1798-1800
• MS. Abinger c. 6, fol. 52r: 10 Oct. 1800
• MS. Abinger c. 6, fols. 82-3: 26 Nov. 1800
• MS. Abinger, c. 6, fol. 121r: 4 Jan. 1801
• MS. Abinger c. 14, fols. 87-8: not dated
• MS. Abinger c. 14, fols. 89-90: not dated
• MS. Abinger c. 14, fols. 91-2: 2 September
• MS. Abinger c. 14, fols. 93-4: not dated
• MS. Abinger c. 14, fol. 95: not dated
• MS. Abinger c. 32, fol. 34.
• National Archive TS11/463
• St Clair
• Locke

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.