William Wilde

Sir William Robert Wills Wilde (1815–1876) was an Anglo-Irish surgeon, writer, and antiquarian known for his contributions to oto-ophthalmology and his exploration of Ireland's prehistoric history. Born in County Galway, he studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and later in Edinburgh, where he specialized in ear and eye surgery. He became a prominent figure in 19th-century medical science, publishing works on auricular surgery and the epidemics of Ireland.

Wilde was also an accomplished writer, penning travel narratives, historical studies, and guidebooks, including *Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands* (first published in 1867) and *The Early Races of Mankind in Ireland*. His antiquarian interests led him to investigate ancient Irish sites, such as Newgrange and the Boyne Valley.

In his personal life, Wilde was married to Lady Jane Francesca Agnes Elgee, a writer known as Speranza. They had three legitimate children, including Oscar Wilde, who later became famous as a作家. He also acknowledged paternity of two illegitimate daughters, Emily and Mary, who tragically died in 1871 after their dresses caught fire at a Halloween party.

Wilde's reputation was tarnished in the late 1860s when a former patient, Mary Travers, accused him of rape. Despite winning her lawsuit, the scandal damaged his career, leading him to retreat from Dublin to Moytura, a house he built near Lough Corrib. He died in 1876 and was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin.

Wilde's legacy endures through his medical contributions and writings, which continue to be studied and celebrated for their historical and scientific insights.