Berners Street hoax

51°31′03″N 0°08′14″W / 51.5176°N 0.1372°W / 51.5176; -0.1372

Berners Street hoax, caricature
Theodore Hook, perpetrator of the hoax, circa 1810

The Berners Street hoax was perpetrated by Theodore Hook in Westminster, London, England, in 1810.[1][2] Hook had made a bet with his friend Samuel Beazley that he could transform any house in London into the most talked-about address in a week, which he achieved by sending out thousands of letters in the name of Mrs Tottenham, who lived at 54 Berners Street, requesting deliveries, visitors and assistance.[3]

  1. ^ Chambers 1832, pp. 260
  2. ^ Barham 1852, pp. 72–77
  3. ^ Lockhart 1852, pp. 16–18