Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-04-05
KING WHO DIED IN POVERTY.
Corsican Monarch whose ToInbstont
stiII stands in n London
Churchyard.


The tombstone of a king who died
in poverty still stands in the Gods
acre which surrounds the parish
church of st. Anne, Soho, London.
King Theodore Of Corsica was borr
at Metz in 1896. Invited by the gen.
eral assembly of the Corsicans to be
come their king, he was duly crowned
in 1876, but a few years sufficed tc
exhaust his personal wealth. After
appointing regency Of 80 mobiles tC
manage the state in his absence, he
commenced a pilgrimage of solicita
tion to obtain foreign aid and money
to support his rank and style as king
of Corsica, says a London paper.
He was more or less Hospitality re.
ceived in several courts, but the prime
object Of his mission was not achieved
Arriving in England at last, he wal
referred to the admiral of the Med.
iterranean feet. who would aid him
by order of the home government
But when King Theodore learned thar
his landing would be opposed he re
turned to England.
Having borrowed on the continent
where and when opportunity present
ed itself he laid himself open to the
wiles of the Genoese. mobiles, who were
ever scheming and plotting against
him. He was arrested for a debt OF
5000 forms in Amsterdam and thrown
into prison, but subsequently released
by a subscription being raised by
Jews and foreigners to liquidate his
debt. A Spanish Jew advanced him
10000 florins, and in 173s he unsuceess.
fully attempted landing in Corsica.
Back again to England, where he
received considerable sympathy and
support, he was again seized for debt
and cast into the. kings bench prison.
In prison he affected as regal state
of demeanor as his surroundings al.
lowed and received his various visit
ors with an amount of pomp and ceP-
emony rather ludicrous and pathetic.
Here he remained until he was re.
leased on his surrendering his king
dom for the benefit of his creditors.
On his release he took a chair to the
house of the Portuguese minister, he
being away from home. and King
Theodore, not having the wherewithal
to pay for his conveyance. requested
the chairman to carry him to the
house of tailor in Soho, which was
done. The man of scissors and cloth
paid the fare and gave the pauper
king shelter. Theodore was taken IN
the next day and died three days later
without a sixpenee in his pocket.
Horace Walpole, who had done him
many acts of kindness during his life,
raised subscription to bury him and
composed his epitaph smollett de.
seribes his person and character in
Ferdinand Count Fathom."
The original mural tablet has been
made more imposing by the addition
of a many-membered molding.
The inscription reads: Near this
place is Inferred Theodore, king OF
Corsica, who died in this parish on De
eember II, 1856, Immediately after
leaving the kings bench prison, by
the benefit Of the act Of insolvency;
in consequence of which he registered
his kingdom Of Corsica for the use OF
his creditors.
''The crave, great teacher, to a level
brings
Heroes and beggars, galley slaves and
kings,
But Theodore this moral learned eer
dead
Fate pour'd its lessons on his living head
Bestowed a kingdom and denied him
breath"
Under this monument is one to VIII.
liam Hazlett, who also finds resting
place in the churchyard.