John Nichols Thom - Canterbury

Canterbury

In September 1832, Thom arrived in Canterbury, announcing himself as Count Moses R. Rothschild, of the illustrious Jewish banking family. He dressed as a Turk, or in other fantastic costumes, and spent money liberally, quickly becoming well known in the city. After a few weeks he metamorphosed into Sir William Percy Honeywood Courtenay, Knight of Malta.

Although seen by many as a charlatan, Thom stood for Canterbury at the parliamentary election of 1832, using the name Sir William Courtenay of Powderham and claiming to be the heir to the Earl of Devon. Thom's populist politics saw him poll a creditable 375 votes, which was almost half the 834 and 802 polled by the other two candidates, Richard Watson and Viscount Fordwich.

Thom's popularity was largely confined to the city of Canterbury. He was then living at the Rose Hotel, and campaigned in a crimson velvet suit with gold lacings and carried a sword. He later began to call himself the King of Jerusalem and Knight of Malta. He began to tour Kent and spoke against various tax laws.

In 1833 Thom began to publish a theological journal The Lion in which he stated that all the churches just wanted to hoard gold. In July 1833 he also claimed to have seen that a group of alcohol smugglers had not thrown their cargo overboard, which they certainly had done. On 24 July he was sentenced to penal transportation for perjury and was locked up in the Barming Heath asylum in Kent.

His father petitioned for his release and, with help of Sir Hussey Vivian, wrote letters to Lord John Russell (the then Home secretary). The petition was successful and a pardon was granted.