Tichbprne Case
Preserved but no longer current.
The most celebrated imper- sonation case in English law. In March, 1853, Roger Charles Tichborne, heir to an ancient Hampshire baronetcy, sailed for Valparaiso, and after travelling a while in S. America embarked on April 20th, 1854, in a sailing- ship named the Bella, bound for Jamaica. The ship went down, and nothing more was heard or seen of Roger Tichborne. In October, 1865, *'R. C.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Tichbprne Case” mean?
The most celebrated imper- sonation case in English law. In March, 1853, Roger Charles Tichborne, heir to an ancient Hampshire baronetcy, sailed for Valparaiso, and after travelling a while in S. America embarked on April 20th, 1854, in a sailing- ship named the Bella, bound for Jamaica. The ship went down, and nothing more was heard or seen of Roger Tichborne. In October, 1865, *'R. C.
Is “Tichbprne Case” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.