But before we get into that, there should be some mention of Whitman's sexuality. It is generally accepted that Whitman was homosexual or at the very least bisexual. Oscar Wilde seems to think so and I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. However, Whitman himself has never commented on his sexuality or openly admitted to anything. All instances or evidence of his sexuality are only related through second hand sources.
Peter Doyle is undeniably Whitman's intimate friend who is assumed to have also been his lover. The two met in 1865 on a streetcar in Washington DC. At the time Whitman was 45 years old while Doyle was 21. Doyle was conducting the streetcar while Whitman was the only passenger seated. During that moment, the two became "the biggest of friends". The two were inseparable and openly affectionate towards each other. Friends and family knew of their intimate relationship and Doyle was often invited over to have dinner with Whitman and his family. As much as Whitman wanted it, the two never managed to live together since Doyle needed to stay at home to care of his widowed mother and siblings. Doyle was influential on Whitman's poems, particularly "O Captain! My Captain!" since Doyle was actually present during Lincoln's assassination.
16.4 was Whitman's nickname for Doyle, the numbers corresponding to the letters of the alphabet, 16 being P and 4 being D. Occasionally Whitman talked of Doyle in this manner in his journal. Later in his life, the pronoun for 16.4 changed from "him" to "her", suggesting that Whitman could never fully accept the public sphere knowing that he may have a more than friendly relationship with another man. Although this isn't too surprising due to his career and the times he was living in. Doyle and Whitman remained close till Whitman's death.
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