200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

The History of LGBTQ+ Rights in Britain: Source 2

Why this source is used

National Archives education source on James Pratt and John Smith, the last men executed for sodomy in England in 1835.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer How did UK law criminalise homosexuality before 1967? Before 1967, English and Welsh law criminalised male same-sex intimacy through buggery and gross indecency offences, with punishments ranging from execution to imprisonment. Read the topic guide Criminalisation Before Decriminalisation Before partial decriminalisation in 1967, English and Welsh law criminalised male same-sex intimacy through sodomy and gross indecency offences.

Source Status

Publisher
The National Archives
Type
archive
Reliability
high
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/the-history-of-lgbtq-rights-in-britain/the-history-of-lgbtq-rights-in-britain-source-2/ Accessed 2 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/the-history-of-lgbtq-rights-in-britain/the-history-of-lgbtq-rights-in-britain-source-2/

Used by Topics

Criminalisation Before Decriminalisation

Used by Questions

How did UK law criminalise homosexuality before 1967?

Used by Timeline Events

27 November 1835 DiscriminationLegalUKPeople

Last Execution for Sodomy in England

James Pratt and John Smith became the last individuals executed for sodomy in England, following arrest in a private residence and a widely condemned trial. Their case drew public outrage, contributing to growing discomfort with the severity of penalties for consensual same-sex relations and hastening abolition of the death penalty for sodomy.