Mr. William Cleghorn (1777–1860), better known locally as "Billy Conolly" was the last of the old eccentrics of Newcastle.
Mr. William Cleghorn, more generally known as "Billy Conolly"[1] was born c. 1777 in Alnwick, Northumberland.
He served his time to be a leather breeches maker, but for many years he led a wandering life, selling the ballads and stories of Cattanach of the Seven Dials, London.
He is said to have been the veritable "King of the Beggars" in St. Giles's; and at one time he was kidnapped and carried to France, and exhibited as a dwarf, being very diminutive in stature.
In his latter days he earned a livelihood by selling nuts and oranges, and was well patronised by the public.