This Day in History: 25 May 2020
25 May 1895
125 years ago, today, Oscar Wilde was sent to prison after being convicted of sodomy. Known for writing 'The Picture of Dorian Grey' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest', he brought attention to his private life in a feud with Sir John Sholto Douglas, whose son was romantically involved with Wilde. At the time, homosexuality was a criminal offense in Britain, but this did not stop Wilde's attempt to gain some measure of public acceptance, but at the same time still trying to hide his sexuality. Douglas, a furious homophobe, began to object against Wilde's behaviour, causing Wilde to sue him for libel. Instead, Wilde was given an arrest warrant for indecency charges after Douglas argued that Wilde had drove 12 boys to commit sodomy.
Resisting the temptation to flee to France, Wilde decided to stand trial. Initially, he was accused of having young men in his bed and faecal stains on his hotel bed sheets and was denied bail. At his first trial, he managed to secure a mistrial when a juror refused to vote to convict, and at his second trial, many refused to betray Wilde by testifying, but he was still convicted. The judge remarked that he would "pass the severest sentence that the law allows. In my judgement it is totally inadequate for such a case as this". He received a sentence of imprisonment and hard labour for two years, which he served. Afterwards, he spent his remaining three years in exile, and died at the age of 45. His body was buried in Paris.
Want to find out more about the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde and his life? Click here for more information about his crimes of sodomy, or here for more on his life. Click here instead for a video outlining his 'wild' life.
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