Queer Places:
University of Cambridge, 4 Mill Ln, Cambridge CB2 1RZ
St Mary's Churchyard, Mount St, Diss IP22 4QQ, United Kingdom
Charles Wiseman (1800 – August 22, 1823) was born in Diss, Norfolk, as the youngest son of Benjamin and Mary Wiseman. His family background was marked by early loss; his
mother passed away in 1805 when he was a young child, followed by his father in 1809. He grew up alongside his siblings, Edward Sheriff Wiseman and Mary Ann Wiseman.
Displaying strong academic promise, Wiseman was admitted to St John’s College, Cambridge, on December 13, 1816, and officially matriculated in October 1817. He distinguished himself at the university, earning a scholarship in 1818 and successfully completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1821. Beyond his standard collegiate achievements, he holds a notable place in intellectual history as a founding member of the Cambridge Apostles, the prestigious and secretive university discussion society established in 1820.
In his early twenties, Wiseman's health declined due to consumption, or tuberculosis, a common and devastating affliction of the era. Seeking a milder climate for recovery, he traveled to Switzerland, but ultimately succumbed to the illness on August 22, 1823, at the age of 23, in Chêne near Geneva. His death was duly recorded in contemporary publications such as the Gentleman's Magazine in 1823. His remains were returned to his native Norfolk, where he was laid to rest in the Saint Mary Churchyard in Diss.
Regarding any LGBTQ historical connections, archival records and available biographical materials for Charles Wiseman do not document or provide evidence regarding his personal life or relationships in this context.
References:
 The Cambridge Apostles, 1820-1914: Liberalism, Imagination, and Friendship in British Intellectual and Professional Life 1st Edition by W.C. Lubenow |
Other references:
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