Boulton & Park and Crossdressing in the Victorian Era

Transgender people are often seen as a modern “invention” or “phenomena”. However, it is widely accepted that this is not the case, especially when examining people who behaved outside of gender norms in the past. These individuals may not have recognized themselves as trans, since the vernacular and modern understanding around us is fairly new, but modern scholars and trans laymen alike can recognize the behaviors and thoughts of these individuals as aligning with the modern transgender understanding and experience. Two of these individuals are Ernest Boulton and Frederick William Park (or, as they may have preferred, Stella Boulton and Jane or Fanny Park), two people assigned male at birth who frequently dressed and behaved in feminine ways, only to eventually be arrested under suspicion of soliciting money, yet it could be argued that it was simply them expressing themselves outside of the strict Victorian norm that lead to their arrest. I will argue, from a trans perspective, that these two are not only a sensation of their time, but also fall under the trans umbrella as it is understood today. 

The “Crimes”

Boulton and Park were arrested in 1870 and charged with “intention to commit felony” and accused of attempting to solicit money from strangers (The Times, April 30, 1870). However, the only proof in defense of this is that they allegedly attempted to get the attention of men (The Times, May 14, 1870). They also did not do this every time they dressed femininely in public, and even wore veils on their faces for some outings, according to the driver, Henry Holland, in his court examination as a witness (The Times). Considering the strict social rules of the Victorian Era, it is more than possible that the claim that these two were wishing to extort money was simply an excuse to arrest them for a serious crime. This idea is furthered by the fact that the four people accused in the case of alleged extortion were acquitted of all charges on the final day of the court case. However,  Boulton and Park were found guilty for appearing as women in public, and required to “‘enter into their recognisances of £500 each for two years” as punishment, and were able to pay this due to their relative wealth (Staveley-Wadham, ‘Women Personators’ – The 1871 Trial of Boulton and Park). Although surviving the case without jail time, the identity and expression of the two were put on trial for the whole world to bear witness, an act that essentially suppresses the two and everyone who feels or behaves similarly.

The Sensation

The idea of crossdressing, especially in the very conservative social environment of Victorian England, in and of itself is something seen as very scandalous or sensational. However, Boulton and Park were unique in exactly how intensely the Victorians responded. Crowds formed to see them, so much so that a Superintendent had to step in to make sure the courtroom wasn’t too crowded for comfort (The Times, May 7, 1870). Celebrities also came out to see the preceding, including, according to the Times on the same date as stated before, “many persons of rank, besides many literary and theatrical celebrities, who were probably admitted by special application to the authorities.” It is not named which celebrities were in attendance, but their presence itself speaks for the fame and spectacle this case carried with it, for better or worse for Boulton and Park.

Trans Analysis

It is true that these individuals may have been trans women, but I am not planning on making a case for this, since identity is something that is highly subjective and tied to the vocabulary of the time. However, I am making the argument that Boulton and Park do fall under the modern understanding of the trans umbrella (which includes binary trans men/woman, nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals, among other labels and lack thereof). It is true that dressing up as the opposite sex does not necessarily make one trans, for example, many drag queens don’t see themselves as anything other than cis men who like to perform. With Boulton and Park, dressing up seemed to be more than a performance or some kind of statement; there is no evidence or mention that they resisted leaving places where they were asked to, as John Reeves has said to do in his statement as reported in the Times on May 14, 1870. They would also routinely dress as women for years preceding their arrest, and had feminine names chosen for themselves –Boulton as Stella and Park as either Jane or Fanny– and introduced themselves with their chosen names; the witness Mr Mundell only knew them as their chosen names as expressed in court (The Times, May 7, 1870). As a transgender person, I recognize these behaviors, as I partake in them myself. It appears that Boulton and Park wished to construct social identities for themselves that differed from those that society has chosen for them. To further examine John Reeves’ testimony; Reeves mentioned that the two individuals would also appear in masculine clothing in public, but “but their faces were painted up and powdered, and they were got up effeminately as before” (J. Reeves, The Times, May 14, 1870). The two are also said to make “peculiar noises with their lips”, the same noise that “females make in the streets” , According to Reeves in the same statement. Presenting as outside the assigned gender at birth and not wishing to behave within those perceived gender roles are behaviors that are very familiar to me as a trans person as well. 

Conclusion

Boulton and Park were two people doomed to live in a time that did not make room for them, and they were publicly shamed in a court case and accused of being criminals. Though it is truly a shame to see how people belonging to LGBT+ identities have been treated in the past by the law, it is somewhat of a comfort to have these cases, simply because we would not have nearly as many recorded instances of people like us existing such a long time ago. Boulton and Park were a sensation in their era and are somewhat of a sensation today, though one can only wish they had the opportunity to live quietly, if they so wished. 

Since I myself am a transmasculine person, I found it appropriate to cross dress as a woman for this project in the style of the Victorian photographic portrait. Though this project could be nonsensical to those who do view me as a woman, I aim to make a statement on modern views on gender and gender performances. Credit to Elle Bonet for editing.