William Thomas Stead: July 5, 1849 – April 15, 1912

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William Thomas Stead was an English journalist and editor who, as one of the early pioneers of investigative journalism, became one of the most controversial figures of the Victorian era. He was among the most famous passengers aboard the RMS Titanic, losing his life when it sank in April 1912. His journalistic crusade against child prostitution is thought to have furthered the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, which included a new law against "gross indecency", any sexual act of male with male short of sodomy. Oscar Wilde was convicted in 1995 under the "gross indecency" clause.[1]


Stead's 'New Journalism' is said to have paved the way for today's tabloid press, and was influential in demonstrating how the press could be used to influence public opinion and government policy.[2] He was also well known as a world peace advocate, an advocate of women's rights, a defender of civil liberties, a fighter for the deprived and oppressed,[3] and a supporter of the international language Esperanto.[3]


Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885

Stead's journalistic crusade against child prostitution is thought to have furthered the passing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885. This provided for "the Protection of Women and Girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes". It raised the age of consent, and delineated the penalties for sexual offenses against women and minors. It also strengthened existing legislation against prostitution.


"gross indecency"

A clause introduced by Member of Parliament Henry Labouchere on August 6, 1885 provided for a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year, with or without hard labour, for any man found guilty of "gross indecency" with another male, whether "public or private". No definition was given of what, exactly, constituted "gross indecency," as Victorian morality demurred from giving precise descriptions of activity considered immoral. In practice, "gross indecency" was widely interpreted as any sexual act of male with male short of sodomy (anal intercourse), which remained a more serious and separate crime.


The Criminal Law Amendment Act was passed on August 14, 1885.[4]


Notes

  1. ↑ See: http://www.attackingthedevil.co.uk/ W. T. Stead Resource Site], accessed April 18, 2012. This entry on Stead was adapted from Wikipedia, accessed April 18, 2012.
  2. ↑ Joseph O. Baylen, ‘Stead, William Thomas (1849–1912)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2010 accessed 3 May 2011
  3. ↑ Enciklopedio de Esperanto, 1933.
  4. ↑ "Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885", accessed April 18, 2012.


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