Richard Brothers was born in December 25, 1757 at Newfoundland and became well known as both an early believer and teacher of a theory concerning the Lost Ten Tribes. He was educated at Woolwich, England and died on January 25, 1824) in London, England.

Brief biography

Richard Brothers entered the Royal Navy and served under Keppel and Rodney. In 1783 he became lieutenant, and was discharged on half-pay. He then travelled on the continent of Europe and later married in 1886. His marriage was reported as being "unhappy" and so he returned to service in the Royal Navy.

Because he came to believe that military service was not compatible with his new calling to serve Christianity, in 1789 he once again left the Navy. The theology of Richard Brothers was radically Protestant and Calvinist. Built upon the principle of individual revelation, Richard Brothers believed that he could not serve the King as head of the Church of England.

In 1791 he found himself with little income after he began to question the oath required he had taken for receipt of his military half-pay and actions that he then took reduced him to serious pecuniary straits. Richard Brothers then divided his time between the open air and the workhouse where he developed the idea that he had a special divine commission, and he then wrote to both the King and the Parliament to that effect.

Publishing career

In 1793 Richard Brothers declared himself to be the apostle of a new religion. He claimed that he was the nephew of the Almighty and prince of the Hebrews and appointed to lead them to the land of Canaan. At the end of 1794 he began publication of his prophetic interpretations, his first book being A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times.

In consequence of prophesying the death of the King and the end of the monarchy, he was arrested for treason in 1795, and imprisoned on the grounds of being criminally insane. His case was, however, brought before Parliament by his ardent disciple, Nathaniel Brassey Halhed, an orientalist and a member of the House of Commons. As a result Richard Brothers was removed to a private asylum in Islington.

While he was in the private asylum Richard Brothers wrote a variety of prophetic pamphlets which gained him many believers. Among, amongst his supporters was William Sharp, the engraver. Some of his political predictions such as the violent death of Louis XVI) seemed to be proof that he was inspired. But when Richard Brothers predicted that on November 19, 1795 he would be revealed as Prince of the Hebrews and Ruler of the world and the date passed without any such manifestation, William Sharp deserted him to become a religious follower of Joanna Southcott. What other followers he had gained rapidly dwindled.

Death in London

John Finlayson of London finally secured his release from the private asylum and Richard Brothers moved into his home where he died on 25th of January 1824. John Finlayson then began his own financial campaign against the Government seeking payment of an enormous claim for his maintenance of Richard Brothers prior to his death.