Theodore

Theodore, 'king of Corsica,' otherwise Baron Theodore de Nenhoff, son of a Westphalian noble in the French service, was born at Metz in 1686, was himself successively in the French, Swedish, and Spanish service, was ruined in Law's speculations, and after leading an adventurer's life settled at Florence in 1732. As representative of the Emperor Charles VI., he was induced by Corsican acquaintances to head a Corsican rising against the Genoese; and with the support of Turkey and a ship and munitions from the Bey of Tunis landed in Corsica in March 1736, and was crowned Theodore I. He was in a few months driven to flight, as he was again on a second attempt in 1738, and on a third in 1743. After many wanderings he settled in London in 1749. Imprisoned by his creditors, he was liberated by a subscription supported by Walpole, but died soon after, 11th December 1756. In Spain he had married an Irish lady, daughter of the Earl of Kilmallock. His only son by her, known as Colonel Frederick, wrote a book on Corsica, and at the age of about seventy-two shot himself in the porch of Westminster Abbey, 1st February 1797. See Fitzgerald, King Theodore of Corsica (1890).