 After appearing in a few Christmas pantomimes and benefits for his father , JS fell into unemployment and was incarcerated in a debtors ' prison for a time ; his alcoholism also further worsened . In 1832 , Grimaldi , Mary and their son moved to Woolwich , but JS often abused his parents ' hospitality by bringing home prostitutes and fighting in the house with his alcoholic friends . He moved out later that year and died at his lodgings on 11 December 1832 , aged 30 . With Grimaldi almost crippled , and Mary having suffered a stroke days before JS 's death , they made a suicide pact . They took some poison , but the only result was a long bout of stomach cramps . Dismayed at their failure , they abandoned the idea of suicide . 
