Person    | Male  Born 25/8/1694  Died 11/12/1756

Theodore, King of Corsica

Categories: Royalty

Countries: Corsica, France, Germany, Sweden

Adventurer and king. Born Theodor Stephan Freiherr von Neuhoff in Cologne, Germany or Metz, France depending on source. He served in the French army and Swedish diplomatic service and became chargé d'affaires to Emperor Charles VI. In 1736 he led a Corsican uprising against the Genoese and, in return for these services, was elected king. He left after seven months to procure foreign aid, but his attempts to return were frustrated. Settled in London, where he was, in December 1749, imprisoned for debt. With the aid of Horace Walpole he was released in early December 1756 but died only a few days later.

2023: Alistair Gordon sent us a photo of a page from The Sphere newspaper dated 12 December 1903.  This contains a photograph of the monument and the text: “This day 147 years ago there died in Soho an elderly gentleman of the name of Theodore Neuhoff, who was the first and only King of Corsica. The son of a Westphalian noble, he was born in 1686 {very different from the date supplied by Wikipedia} and served under the French, the Swedish, and the Spaniards. He was ruined by the Scots Speculator Law and settled down in Florence. He headed the Corsican rising against the Genoese, and with the aid of Turkey was crowned King of Corsica in 1736, but was driven to flight on two occasions, ultimately settling in London in 1749. He was imprisoned in the King’s Bench Prison for debt, but was liberated. A subscription for him was started by Walpole. He married (in Spain) an Irishwoman and died on December 11, 1756, being buried in St. Anne’s, Soho. His only son shot himself in the porch of Westminster Abbey in 1797.”

We can't corroborate the story about the son, who may have been an impostor, see Wikipedia.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Theodore, King of Corsica

Commemorated ati

King of Corsica

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

Read More

Other Subjects

Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester

Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester

Married Humphrey, uncle to the child King Henry VI.  Eleanor was implicated in a plot of  treasonable necromancy against the king.  Her supposed co-conspirators were executed and she was sentenced ...

Person, Royalty

1 memorial
Marina, Duchess of Kent

Marina, Duchess of Kent

Born Athens into the Greek, Danish and Russian royal families, amongst others. 1934 she married George, Duke of Kent, and their son is Edward, Duke of Kent. Died Kensington Palace.

Person, Royalty

2 memorials
Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy

Granddaughter of King George V and daughter of George, Duke of Kent. Born Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel at 3 Belgrave Square. Seems to specialise in infrastructure plaques - she must ha...

Person, Royalty

5 memorials
Countess of Wessex, Sophie

Countess of Wessex, Sophie

Born Oxford as Sophie Rhys-Jones.  Worked in PR.  Married Prince Edward in 1999.

Person, Royalty

3 memorials
King William IV, Duke of Clarence

King William IV, Duke of Clarence

The Duke of Clarence became King William IV (The Sailor King), reigning 1830 to 1837. Had a long live-in affair with the actress Mrs Jordan which produced 10 children, all given the surname FitzCla...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty

8 memorials

Previously viewed

Elizabeth I statue - Harrow

Elizabeth I statue - Harrow

HA1, Peterborough Road, Harrow War Memorial Building and Speech Room

Harrow School was founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter of Elizabeth I so this statue is entirely appropriate. About this statue Wikiped...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators