On This Day

12 February 1886

Sir Charles Dilke is cited in a divorce case

Sir Charles Dilke’s role in a divorce case, where he is accused following circumstantial evidence, of having an affair with Virginia Crawford, receives an interesting ruling: Virginia had committed adultery with Dilke, but there was no evidence the Dilke had committed adultery with Virginia. Dilke’s career was nevertheless ruined by this case and subsequent theories have arisen to suggest that Rosebery, or Chamberlain, may have actually been Virginia’s lover.