Britannica Sources used in this answer

Who was George Lyttelton and how did he help Henry Fielding?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Henry Fielding, frontispiece to Fielding's Works (1st ed., 1762), engraving by James Basire after a drawing by William Hogarth — Henry Fielding Henry Fielding, frontispiece to Fielding's *Works* (1st ed., 1762), engraving by James Basire after a drawing by William Hogarth

George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton (1709–1773), was a prominent British Whig statesman and writer who served in various high-ranking government roles, including lord of the Treasury and chancellor of the Exchequer.1

Lyttelton and Henry Fielding first became friends as students at Eton College. As an adult, Lyttelton became an important patron to the author, providing him with significant support during his career. Their close association is famously commemorated by Fielding’s dedication of his masterpiece, Tom Jones (1749), to Lyttelton.21