Anthony William Hall

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For other people called Anthony Hall, see Anthony Hall.

Anthony William Hall (1898–1947) was a Shropshire man who claimed to be descended directly through the male line from Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (from an illegitimate son, born before their marriage). In 1931, Hall attempted — in an "open letter" to King George V — to claim the British throne. He also made many speeches, in Birmingham and elsewhere, in which he set out his claim and challenged the King to a duel, with the loser to be beheaded. Hall was arrested many times for using "scandalous language", and was fined and bound over to keep the peace.

The theory that Anthony Hall was a descendant of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was used as the basis for a 1999 novel called Heir Unapparent, written by John Harrison.

[edit] External links

• "Bid to brand throne claimant mad" at BBC News, 27 July 2006
• "The man who told George V: I'm Henry VIII's rightful heir - move over" at The Guardian, 28 July 2006
• "The Passion of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn" at Heir Unapparent
• "Scans of documents from 1931" at the Public Record Office
• Heir Unapparent by John Harrison, at Amazon.com