The following abbreviated chronological biography of Oscar Wilde has been reproduced from numerous sources, but primarily from Merlin Holland’s “Oscar Wilde: A Life in Letters“.
1854: Oscar Fingal O’Fflahertie Wills Wilde born in Dublin on 16 October
1864-71: Studies at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen
1871: Begins studying Classics at Trinity College, Dublin
1874: Begins studying Classics at Magdalen College, Oxford
1878: Wins Newdigate Prize for his poem ‘Ravenna’, takes BA degree
1879: Settles in London
1881: First edition of his Poems published
1882: Lectures in the USA and Canada all year
1883: Writes The Duchess of Padua
1884: Marries Constance Lloyd after 6 month engagement, settles in Chelsea (London)
1885: First son, Cyril, is born; Wilde writes reviews for the Pall Mall Gazette
1886: Second son, Vyvyan, is born
1887: Becomes editor of The Woman’s World; ‘The Canterville Ghost’, ‘The Sphinx Without a Secret’, ‘Lord Arthur Savile’s Crimes’, and ‘The Model Millionaire’ are published
1888: ‘The Happy Prince and Other Tales’ is published
1889: ‘The Decay of Lying’, ‘Pen, Pencil and Poison’, ‘The Birthday of the Infanta’, and ‘The Portrait of Mr. W. H.’ are published; Wilde gives up editorship of Woman’s World
1890: First version of The Picture of Dorian Gray published in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. ‘The Critic as Artist’ published
1891: ‘The Soul of Man under Socialism’, ‘Intentions’, and ‘A House of Pomegranates’ are published; Wilde meets Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie); writes Salome in Paris
1892: Lady Windermere’s Fan produced at St. James’s Theatre; Salome is denied a licence for performance; Wilde writes A Woman of No Importance
1893: Salome is published in French; A Woman of No Importance is produced at Haymarket Theatre; writes An Ideal Husband; Lady Windermere’s Fan is published
1894: Salome published in English translation; The Sphinx published; and A Woman of No Importance published
1895: An Ideal Husband produced at Haymarket Theatre; The Importance of Being Earnest produced at St. James’s Theatre. Wilde finds Marquess of Queensberry’s card at Albermarle Club; obtains warrant for Queensberry’s arrest on a charge of criminal libel ; Queensberry goes on trial and is acquitted; Wilde is arrested, charged with gross indecency, convicted, and sentenced to two years’ hard labour. Imprisoned at Pentonville, transferred to Wandsworth and finally to Reading Gaol. In November declared bankrupt.
1896: Death of his mother, Lady Wilde; Salome is produced in Paris
1897: Writes De Profundis ; is released from prison, adopts the name Sebastian Melmoth, settles first in France at Berneval; later joins Lord Alfred Douglas in Naples
1898: Moves to Paris, The Ballad of Reading Gaol is published; death of his wife, Constance
1899: The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband are published; Wilde moves into the Hotel d’Alsace in Paris
1900: Undergoes ear operation in hotel room; is baptized a Roman Catholic and on 30 November dies of cerebral meningitis; buried in Bagneux Cemetery
1906: Wilde’s estate is discharged from bankruptcy
1909: Wilde’s remains are moved from Bagneux to Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris and in 1912 a monument by Jacob Epstein is erected over them