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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