Arthur was born in the harsh winter of 1840 in London, a city dominated by bitter cold, snow, and the pervasive smog of industrial pollution. The Thames, once known for its clean waters and abundant fish, now flowed dark and murky, tainted by the refuse of factories, industrial waste, and even decaying bodies. This dismal scene was a direct consequence of London’s rapid industrialization, which had led to it becoming the most densely populated city in the world. Amid the filth and despair, toshers—brave, resilient scavengers—searched the riverbanks daily, risking their lives to find anything of value in the garbage-strewn waters, including discarded coins, scraps of metal, and even hidden treasures that had been cast aside in the chaos.

On a particularly bitter November morning, a group of toshers combed the Chelsea shore, working together to avoid the dangers of flooded sewers and other potential hazards. Among them was Arabella, a pregnant woman whose husband, once a promising carpenter, had succumbed to alcohol, abandoning his responsibilities. Despite the weight of her pregnancy, Arabella worked tirelessly, driven by the desperate need to support herself and her unborn child. She toiled in the muck, searching through the refuse as her body strained against the demands of labor, a tragic reflection of the hardships of life for many working-class women in London.

As Arabella’s labor pains began unexpectedly while searching the shore, the group of toshers was thrown into a frenzy. Arabella, desperate and in distress, confided in an elderly toshers’ member, revealing that her husband was missing, and she had no means of support for her child. The situation grew increasingly dire, especially as Arabella’s waters broke in the filthy river, leaving the group to frantically attempt to help her. Meanwhile, a stark contrast was unfolding in Buckingham Palace, where Queen Victoria herself endured the pains of childbirth in comfort and luxury, underlining the vast disparity between the lives of the wealthy and those of the destitute working class. This juxtaposition between the two worlds highlighted the inequalities that marked life in London at the time, where even the most fundamental experiences like childbirth were experienced in profoundly different circumstances based on one’s class and status.

Despite the grim setting of her birth, Arabella gave birth to a son, who was named King Arthur by the compassionate toshers who had gathered around. This moment, despite the squalor of the riverbank, embodied a sense of hope, as the infant’s birth represented a new beginning, a fresh start amid the desolation surrounding him. While his entrance into the world was anything but ideal, the name given to him was symbolic, hinting at a future that might be filled with potential despite his impoverished beginnings. Arthur’s birth, amid the filth and decay of the Thames, served as a reminder that even in the most challenging circumstances, there is hope for change and transformation.

Arthur’s extraordinary memory, coupled with his ability to perceive beauty in the world around him, would set him apart from others in his life. While his gift was often a blessing, it also came with its burdens, as it made him acutely aware of both the beauty and the suffering around him. As he grew, the challenges of his early life would shape him in ways he could not yet fully understand. His life, deeply rooted in the realities of Victorian London, was one of both hardship and hope, as he navigated the complexities of a world that often seemed stacked against him. The snow-covered Thames, the river that witnessed his birth, would continue to shape his path, guiding him through the contrasts of his existence. This moment, which began with a child born in poverty and struggle, would unfold into a life filled with challenges, but also the potential for greatness.