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
