Thomas William Hodgson Crosland
Encyclopedia
Thomas William Hodgson Crosland (July 21, 1865 or 1868 - 1924), was a British author, poet, journalist and friend of royalty.
on July 21, 1865 or 1868 .
He was an associate and friend of Lord Alfred Douglas
, who was Oscar Wilde
's lover. The bitter feud between Lord Alfred's father the Marquess of Queensberry
and his son resulted in Wilde sueing the Marquess for libel at Douglas’s urging. Subsequently Wilde was charged with homosexuality after the Marquess produced evidence of Wilde’s behaviour as justifying the libel. In 1895 Wilde was found guilty and imprisoned.
In 1914 Robbie Ross, Oscar Wilde's literary executor and rival for Wilde’s affection, charged Crosland with criminal libel, plus writs for criminal conspiracy and perjury against Douglas and Crosland jointly. Crosland was found not guilty, though the judge did say that acquital would not imply that Ross was guilty of any offence.
In 1913 the author Arthur Ransome
recalled the rather endearing story of his (Croslands) first arrival in London from Yorkshire, by road, pushing a perambulator that was shared by manuscripts and a baby. This was at the trial of Ransome and others for libelling Douglas in Ransome’s 1912 book on Wilde; Crosland and the impecunious Douglas had hoped for substantial damages but lost. The judge was rather scathing about Douglas’s behavior in the box, and the jury found that the words complained of were a libel but were true. Ransome’s biographer referred to Crosland as a shady associate of Douglas, and Ross’s biographer calls him a narrow-minded bigot and a right-wing Tory. Crosland wrote a negative review and criticism of Wilde’s De Profundis
in 1912, and ghost-wrote Douglas’s memoir Oscar Wilde and Myself in 1914.
Thomas was a humanitarian who frequently wrote in his poems about the impoverished and sick and unemployed, especially caring about returned soldiers in World War I
. Battling many illnesses, he died in 1924, leaving a wife and son.
Biography
He was born in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
on July 21, 1865 or 1868 .
He was an associate and friend of Lord Alfred Douglas
Lord Alfred Douglas
Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas , nicknamed Bosie, was a British author, poet and translator, better known as the intimate friend and lover of the writer Oscar Wilde...
, who was Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
's lover. The bitter feud between Lord Alfred's father the Marquess of Queensberry
John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry
John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry GCVO was a Scottish nobleman, remembered for lending his name and patronage to the "Marquess of Queensberry rules" that formed the basis of modern boxing, for his outspoken atheism, and for his role in the downfall of author and playwright Oscar...
and his son resulted in Wilde sueing the Marquess for libel at Douglas’s urging. Subsequently Wilde was charged with homosexuality after the Marquess produced evidence of Wilde’s behaviour as justifying the libel. In 1895 Wilde was found guilty and imprisoned.
In 1914 Robbie Ross, Oscar Wilde's literary executor and rival for Wilde’s affection, charged Crosland with criminal libel, plus writs for criminal conspiracy and perjury against Douglas and Crosland jointly. Crosland was found not guilty, though the judge did say that acquital would not imply that Ross was guilty of any offence.
In 1913 the author Arthur Ransome
Arthur Ransome
Arthur Michell Ransome was an English author and journalist, best known for writing the Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. These tell of school-holiday adventures of children, mostly in the Lake District and the Norfolk Broads. Many of the books involve sailing; other common subjects...
recalled the rather endearing story of his (Croslands) first arrival in London from Yorkshire, by road, pushing a perambulator that was shared by manuscripts and a baby. This was at the trial of Ransome and others for libelling Douglas in Ransome’s 1912 book on Wilde; Crosland and the impecunious Douglas had hoped for substantial damages but lost. The judge was rather scathing about Douglas’s behavior in the box, and the jury found that the words complained of were a libel but were true. Ransome’s biographer referred to Crosland as a shady associate of Douglas, and Ross’s biographer calls him a narrow-minded bigot and a right-wing Tory. Crosland wrote a negative review and criticism of Wilde’s De Profundis
De Profundis
De Profundis refers to Psalm 130, traditionally known as the De profundis from its opening words in Latin.It may also refer to:* De Profundis , a ballet by J...
in 1912, and ghost-wrote Douglas’s memoir Oscar Wilde and Myself in 1914.
Thomas was a humanitarian who frequently wrote in his poems about the impoverished and sick and unemployed, especially caring about returned soldiers in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Battling many illnesses, he died in 1924, leaving a wife and son.
Publications
- The Unspeakable Scot (1902)
- The Wild Irishman (1905)
- The collected poems of T.W.H. Crosland (1917)