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Famed Irish playwright, author and wit Oscar Wilde died tragically of meningitis in Paris in 1900. His previously exalted and glamorous life at the peak of London chic society had come undone after his conviction for homosexuality in 1895. Despite his prison sentence and subsequent greatly reduced circumstances, he maintained his humor until the end. Lying in bed in a gaudily decorated room in a Paris Hotel, what were his last words?

Answer: “Either that wallpaper goes. Or I do”.

Source: Oscar Wilde – The Great Drama of His Life: How His Tragedy Reflected His Personality by Ashley H. Robins; General Historical Texts.

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1908 – King Carlos I of Portugal and his heir, Prince Luis Filipe are assassinated by Republican sympathizers in Lisbon.

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A short, sharp hit of history in video format. Acclaimed Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde was the toast of London society in the 1890s until things came decidedly unstuck through an association with a young British aristocrat, Lord Alfred Douglas, known as ‘Bosie’.

The source for this HistoryWow video is: Oscar and Bosie - A Fatal Passion by Trevor Fisher; General Historical Texts.

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“In Russia a man is a called reactionary if he objects to having his property stolen and his wife and children murdered.”

Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British statesman

Source: The Wicket Wit of Winston Churchill by Dominique Enright

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Marcus Porcius Cato (234-149BCE)

Roman statesman, soldier and writer of virtue, simplicity and wisdom. He condemned the luxury of his time and was nicknamed “the censor”. He became Consul in 195BCE, took part in the defeat of Hannibal at Zama, held command in Sardinia and Spain, and in 191 BCE assisted the Greeks in overthrowing Antiochus III at Thermopolyae.

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