Maugham was sixteen and studying in Heidelberg, Germany when he first had sex with another man, a 26-year-old British student he met there.

W. Somerset Maugham (when 40) met Gerald Haxton (when 22) and had a relationship for 29 years

W. Somerset Maugham (when 72) met Alan Searle (when 41) and had a relationship for 19 years