Arthur Orton (1834-1898), The Tichborne Claimant

Sitter associated with 17 portraits
The Tichborne claimant was the person who identified himself, in a series of dramatic legal cases, to be the long-lost Sir Roger Tichborne. The Claimant, as he was commonly known, is usually assumed not to have been Sir Roger Tichborne, but Arthur Orton. Tichborne had been on a ship, the Bella, which had disappeared at sea in 1854. In 1863, his mother advertised in the world's press, asking for his whereabouts. Two years later, a butcher calling himself Tomas Castro from Wagga Wagga, Australia, came forward, claiming to be Sir Roger. London-born Orton was the son of a butcher. He became a sailor and in 1852 embarked for Australia, where he mysteriously disappeared. He was found guilty of perjury and spent ten years in prison.