Oscar wilde

Oscar Wilde’s father was Sir William Robert Wills Wilde he was born on the 19th of April 1815 in Kilkeevin near Castlerea. William went to Elphin Diocesan School in Elphin, County Roscommon. William Wilde was an author of significant works on medicine, archaeology and folklore, particularly concerning his native Ireland and William was an Irish eye and ear surgeon, he opened he own surgery in Dublin providing free treatment.

He studied at Moor Fields eye hospital in London, when William was twenty-two he got a medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and at twenty-eight he graduated as a doctor.

In 1844 he also founded St. Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital, which was built, at his own expense. William also wrote two books, in 1841 he became the medical advicer to the Irish Census and became assistant commissioner to the 1851 Census, William also served as Oculist in ordinary to Queen Victoria. In 1841 he was awarded knighthood for his medical contributions and his involvements with the Census.

Before William married he had three children, Henry Wilson who was born in 1838, Emily Wilde who was born in 1847 and Mary Wilde who was born in 1849.  William paid for Henry’s education, Henry helped with the practice so William could travel. William traveled to Scandinavia and got an honorary degree from Uppsala. Emily and Mary were both looked after by Henry’s brother, they both died in a fire. Mary died at the age of twenty-two and Emily died at twenty-four.

In 1851 William married Poet Jane Elgee, also known a ‘Speranza’, they had two sons William Charles Kingsbury who was born on the 26th of September 1852, Oscar Wills Wilde who was born on the 16th of October 1854 and a daughter Isola Francesca who was born on the 2nd of April 1857. Isola Francesca died in childhood at the age of ten of fever.

There were suspicions William was having an affair when he was married to Jane, when William was dying Jane was visited by a veiled women who claimed to be William’s mistress. Mary Travers also accused William of sexually abusing and drugging her, Jane wrote to Mary’s father and accused him of slander it was refused to settle out of court so was indicated.

Oscar Wilde’s mother was Jane Francesca Elgee; she was born on the 3rd of February 1826 in Wexford into a protestant family. She was also known as ‘Speranza’, she published her poems under the name of Speranza. Jane Wilde was an Irish poet and a supporter of the nationalist movement, she wrote in the pro-Irish independence and in anti-British writing. Jane was a hero of Irish nationalists across the world; to some people she was known as ‘Speranza of the Nation’. She was described as one of Ireland’s noblest daughters and also described to have kept the fire of patriotism burning brightly.

As well as being part of the nationalist movement she was well known for her poetry and writing, she first started writing when she wrote in the Young Ireland movement of the 1840’s.  

She continued her writing and by 1846 she became the paper’s editor and wrote editorials calling for armed revolution in Ireland. Jane’s most famous article was ‘Jacka Alea Est.’. In 1849, while Duffy was arrested for sedition and awaiting trial, Jane wrote two editorials ‘The House of Destiny’ and ‘Jacta Alea Est,’ or "The Die Is Cast"), which declared a bit prematurely that Ireland was at war with England. She admitted authorship of "Jacta Alea Est," but Duffy was tried anyway. In court she was believed to have stood up in the gallery and announced; ‘I, and I alone, am the culprit, if culprit there be.’ Four juries failed to convict Duffy. The Nation was suppressed, and the wounded Young Irelanders dispersed. Speranza's fleeting arc from unknown poet to political celebrity ended, but she kept her false name. 

Jane also wrote patriotic poetry, she was influenced by patriotic poems by Thomas Osbourne Davis, and Jane believed she was a descendant from the Italian poet Dante – ‘Speranza’ is the Italian word for hope. Jane was over six feet tall, she dressed elaborately even when she couldn’t afford it, and in addition she was generous and broad-minded. Jane died in 1896 while Oscar Wilde was in prison.

After Oscar Wilde graduated from Magdalen he returned to Dublin, in Dublin he met a girl called Florence Balcombe, he fell in love with her but unfortunately she got engaged to someone called Bram Stroker.  When Oscar heard about her engagement he wrote to her saying he was going to leave Ireland forever. Oscar left Ireland and moved to London, he only ever re-visited Ireland twice.