Theodore

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

"King of Corsica," otherwise Baron Theodore de Neuhoff, son of a Westphalian noble in the French service; born in Metz in 1686; was successively in the French, Swedish, and Spanish service; was ruined in Law's speculations (see Law, John ); and after leading an adventurer's life settled at Florence in 1732. As a 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, Dec. 11, 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 72 shot himself in the porch of Westminster Abbey, Feb. 1, 1797. THEODORE II., King of Abyssinia; born in the province of Kwara in 1818; for many years a rebel; finally fought his way to the throne in 1855. He was a man of great parts, an inveterate foe of Islamism, a born ruler, and an intelligent reformer. But intolerance of any power save his own finally made a tyrant of him; and in consequence of the imprisonment of Consul Cameron and other British subjects he brought on himself a war with England, which ended, April 13, 1868, in the storming of Magdala and the death (supposedly by suicide) of Theodore. See Abyssinia . born in Antioch about 390; early entered