Plaque

King of Corsica

Inscription

Near this place is interred Theodore King of Corsica who died in this parish Dec 11 1756, 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 grave, great teacher, to a level brings
Heroes and beggars, galley-slaves and kings,
But Theodore this moral learn’d ere dead:
Fate poured its lessons on his living head,
Bestow’d a kingdom, and denied him bread.

The weather-worn stone above this plaque is, we guess, the original gravestone.

Perhaps someone with legal training could explain the meaning of the first paragraph, particularly how a Kingdom could be registered for the use of one's creditors. The epitaph was written by Walpole who raised a subscription to free him from prison. On his release the King went to live with a tailor in Little Chapel Street where he died.

Site: St Anne's Soho (4 memorials)

W1, Wardour Street, St Anne's Soho

In our photo the Williams plaque can be seen low on the left-facing wall.  The King of Corsica plaque is on the same wall, to the right.  The free-standing drinking fountain is on a shallow platform between the Williams plaque and the two people seated on the steps.  The war memorial is on the right-facing wall.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
King of Corsica

Subjects commemorated i

Theodore, King of Corsica

Adventurer and king. Born Theodor Stephan Freiherr von Neuhoff in Cologne, Ge...

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King's Bench Prison

Established in medieval times as a place to hold prisoners of the King's Benc...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
King of Corsica

Created by i

Horatio ('Horace') Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford

Writer and collector. Youngest son of Sir Robert Walpole. His gothic novel ...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
King of Corsica

Also at this site i

David Williams

David Williams

David Williams, 1738 - 1816, founder of The Royal Literary Fund, 1790, reside...

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George Allen drinking fountain

George Allen drinking fountain

With information provided by Paul Frecker (see GMA's page) we found Soho and ...

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War Memorial at St Anne's Soho

War Memorial at St Anne's Soho

We note that the name John B. Freeman appears twice. Whilst this is probably ...

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