Today is the 156th anniversary of the birth of Irish writer Oscar Wilde – one of the greatest playwrights, poets and writers to have ever committed words to paper. Google are celebrating this event by featuring a Google doodle image of The Picture of Dorian Gray on their homepage.

Here are the top ten things you need to know about the Irish aesthete.

1) Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on October 16th 1854 in Dublin, Ireland.

2) Lauded as an outstanding scholar of the classics, Wilde attended both Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford.

3) Wilde moved to London after university, mixing in fashionable circles, and becoming a ‘spokesman for aestheticism’ while partaking in various literary activities.

4) The Picture of Dorian Gray (published June 1890), considered a work of classic gothic horror fiction, is his only published novel.5) Drawn to drama, Wilde wrote Salomé in French in Paris in 1891 – but it was refused a licence.

5) Drawn to drama, Wilde wrote Salomé in French in Paris in 1891 – but it was refused a licence.

6) The Importance of Being Earnest, a farcical comedy, is Wilde’s most famous play. It was first performed on February 14th 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London

7) While The Importance of Being Earnest was still running in London, Wilde sued his lover Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas’ father the Marquess of Queensberry for libel after Queensberry left his calling card at Wilde's club, the Albemarle, inscribed: "For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite".

8) A series of trials lead to Wilde being convicted of gross indecency with other men and imprisoned for two years, held to hard labour. Upon release, he left for France.

9) In prison he wrote De Profundis, a long letter which discusses his spiritual journey through his trials.

10) He died in Paris, France, destitute on November 30th 1900, aged forty six.