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# 100 Heroes: Lord Ronald Gower
- URL: https://www.gtv.blue/lord-ronald-gower/
- Published: 2026-08-01T23:01:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-02T06:32:20.000Z
- Description: The gay man who inspired Oscar Wilde.
- Author: Gareth Johnson
- Tags: 100 Heroes

Born in 1845, Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower was a British sculptor - one of his works is a statue of [Shakespeare](https://www.gtv.blue/william-shakespeare/) in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He was also a member of parliament and a writer.

Gower came from an aristocratic family - his father was the Duke of Sutherland.

He was educated at Eton and studied at Cambridge.

Gower was a prominent figure in England. He was a contemporary of [Oscar Wilde](https://www.gtv.blue/oscar-wilde/). It's generally assumed that he was Oscar Wilde's model for Lord Henry Wotton in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde's story, The Portrait of Mr W.H. is also seen as a comment on Gower's social circle.

Gower was involved in numerous scandals - generally in some way connected to allegations of homosexuality and impropriety. He was implicated as being a client of the Cleveland Street male brothel, which was raided by police in 1889.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/2025/01/Tuke_-_Frank_Hird_-_a_commission_for_Lord_Ronald_Gower_-_colored_chalks_-29_x_24_cm.--_1894.jpg)

Gower's lover Frank Hird in 1894, chalk drawing by [Henry Scott Tuke](https://www.gtv.blue/henry-scott-tuke/).

His most significant relationship seems to have been Frank Hird, who was nearly 30 years his junior. They met when Hird was 20.

Gower died in 1916.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/2025/01/Lord_Ronald_Sutherland_Gower_by_Henry_Scott_--Harry--_Tuke-1.jpg)

A painting of Lord Gower

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[100 Heroes: Lord Ronald GowerThe gay man who inspired Oscar Wilde.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/icon/favicon-bacae086-eaaa-47cd-858d-95a2f0e1c29a.ico)Naked Men TalkingGareth Johnson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/thumbnail/86bd07d916a7d2bc8e54ca255aee1161-a9d65cef-ff15-4052-b697-738b9593d958.jpg)](https://www.gtv.blue/lord-ronald-gower/)