Captain Jonathan Childe, an officer in the 12th Lancers, believed he had a romantic connection with Queen Victoria in 1837. Despite polite requests to stop, he continued to write passionate love letters to the young queen, eventually leading to his confinement in a private asylum in 1842. Childe’s case touched on the controversial issue of diagnosing mental illness in the 19th century, with some questioning whether he should be sent to an asylum. Deep suspicions of asylums persisted, and Childe’s intelligent and charming nature made it distressing for everyday Britons to accept his confinement. With the support of allies, Childe eventually had his day in court in 1854, where his decrypted letters showcasing delusions and sexual obsessions proved decisive in establishing his insanity. Childe’s case exemplifies public anxiety about the Victorian system of treatment without consent and wrongful confinement in a lunatic asylum.
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