Ian Handford's Series of Significant People

SERIES OF SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE

who lived in Torbay in the 20th century -  not always famous - as researched 

OSCAR WILDE

Oscar Wilde was born on October 18, 1854, being the second son of William and Jane Wilde. Christened Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde the assortment of names was always a cause of embarrassment at school, although later at University he was proud of his ancestry. 

He wrote at school: "As one becomes famous, one sheds some of them, just as a balloonist when rising higher, sheds unnecessary ballast."

Father and Lady Jane Wilde (an accomplished Irish poet) always wished for a girl and while dressing Oscar as a girl this was not unusual in that era and had nothing to do with sexuality. Frocks and smocks were often by used by parents. However, these aristocrats' wish for a daughter was two years later answered by the arrival Isola Emily Francesca Wilde.

Yet Sir William and the eldest son Willie were as we now say 'always sowing their oats' and eventually Sir William would father at least three illegitimate children one to a girl of 19.

When she took him to the High Court it ruled in her favour and from 1860 its decision led to huge financial problems for the Wilde family.

Thirty one years later Oscar would similarly lose at High Court in the so-called 'Queensbury case' and go to jail, the males of the Wilde family forever living up to the family name. 

Oscar eventually proposed to Constance Lloyd in Dublin and they married on May 29, 1884. Constance was always a romantic and beautiful being the envy of most women and later men everywhere.

The couple honeymooned in Paris and then Dieppe before returning to London where as if to prove what a 'professor of aestheticism' could do, Oscar changed the name of their home to 'The House beautiful'.

Their first child Cyril arrived in 1885 and one year later his brother Vyvyan arrived. Oscar by then was a self professed - 'Lord of language' - and at the age of 32 had a family to support but no regular income.

Another potential author wrote for help and Oscar replied: "The best work in literature is always done by those who do not depend on it for their daily bread, and the highest form of literature is Poetry, yet it brings no wealth to the singer."

However, by luck Oscar was asked to review for the Pall Mall Gazette before being approached by the 'The Lady’s World' magazine, in trouble financially.  Oscar's advice  - 'rename it with a more womanly than feminine title like' - Woman's World.

It was his stroke of genius and a turning point for the ailing finances, he now received a regular income.

Constance meanwhile had discovered the secret affair in London but presumed it was with an actress friend they both knew.

But of course the affair was with Lord Douglas - third son of the Marquis of Queensbury. Douglas (or Bosie to Oscar) and his tutor Campbell Dodgson were both invited to Babbacombe Cliff by Wilde who wrote to its owner Baroness Lady Mount-Temple: "Babbacombe Cliff is like a College, for Cyril studies French in the nursery, I write my plays in Wonderland, while in the drawing room Lord Alfred Douglas – one of Lady Queenbury’s sons, studies Plato for his degree in June. He is staying with me for a few days so that I am not lonely in the evenings."

Her Ladyship was a close relative of Constance and in trying to end the 'affair' Constance had arranged for Oscar to holiday in Torquay with their children, hoping to save their marriage.

Yet a second letter written to Bosie from Babbacombe in January 1893 became the reason his father the Marquis left his calling card on a London Club table for all to see which read: "For Oscar Wilde sodomite(sic)” leading to a libel action brought by Oscar Wilde which resulted in him losing his wife, family and "House Beautiful" and freedom when jailed at Reading. 

IAN'S COMMENT. Oscar adored Babbacombe House and Torquay and stayed on for many months - sadly marred by asking Bosie to visit .