The Arrest of Oscar Wilde

On this day in 1895, Oscar Wilde was arrested after losing the libel action which he brought against the Marquess of Queensbury, the father of Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie).  It was the beginning of the end for Wilde who, after a short trial, was found guilty of gross indecency and sentenced to two years' hard labour.

When he was released in 1897, his health had badly deteriorated.  Penniless and broken, both physically and mentally, Wilde died in ignominious exile in France in 1900.  He is interred at the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery outside Paris.

Read an account of his arrest from The Times of London archive here:
http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1895-04-06-10-004&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1895-04-06-10