Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-03
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 3, 1858.
THE BONAPARTES OF BALTIMORE.

JPrsu A~ppleton,s New American Cyclopedia, Vol. Ill
The branch Of the family residing in Balti-
more. Maryland, was derived from the mar
riage of Jerome Bonapsrte, brother of the
Emperor Napoleon l., With Elizabeth Patter-
BON, daughter Of William Patterson, 40 emf
nent merchant 10 the city of Baltimore. She
was scarce eighteen years Of age when Je-
rome BonapaRte, 10 command of a French
frigate. landed in New York, 10 1903. She
at that time, was distinguished by uncommon
personal beauty, and 10 said, moreover, to
have strikingly resembled the Bonapar'e
family. The fame Of Napoleon insured for
bis brother jerome q distinguished reeep-
ton in America, and wherever be went be
was most Hospitality entertained. On visit.
ing Baltimore he cav Miss Patterson, and
BOOT became much attached to her. a partial
ity which che readily returned, and being am-
bitious 10 her views of life, she at once accep-
ted bis offer of marriage. and was united to
him December Oath 1903. The marriage
ceremony wss performed BY the Bishop OF
Baltimore, John Carroll, brother of Charles
Carroll, Of Carrollton, the signer OF the Dec
l~arstion Of Independence, and In accordance
with the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church.
The marriage contract, considered OF impor-
tsnce, was drawn up by Alexander J. Dallas,
subsequently Secretary of the Treasury, and
witnessed by several official personages, in
GLIDING the Mayor of Baltimore.
Jerome Bonaparte remained in America
for q foil year, visiting, With his wife, various
parts of the country. At length they en-
barked for Europe in tho Spring of 1906, In
the American ship Erin, and arrived safely
at Lisbon. The news of the marriage proved
very distasteful to the dictator Of France,
partly because Jerome had dared to marry
without his consent, and partly on account
of bis own wish to unite all his brothers TO
European Princesses. Before the newly
welded pair could reach Europe, an order
went forth to every port under French au-
thority, forbidding them to land. The hopes
of the fair American we're now forever blight
ed, as Napoleon sternly refused to recognize
her marriage. Jerome left her at Lisbon,
and FASTENED to Paris, hoping by a personal
interview to soften the Emperor, directing the
vessel to proceed to Amsterdam as the state
of bis wife's health would not admit OF her
undergoing a long land journey, even 1t a
passport could be Obtained for her, which
was very doubtful. 90 the Erin's arrival at
Texel Roads, Madame Bonaparte found that
an order bad been awaiting her coming,
which prohibited her from landing, She
was obliged to sail at once for England,
where she established her abode, and at Cam
berwell, near London July 7, 1905, gave birth
to q son, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, now
living in Baltimore. She never saw her hus-
band again, except in a casual meeting mary
years after their separation.
Jerome, who was originally much attached
to bis wife, in vain petitioned the Emperor to
recognize her, and was finally obliged to
weld to the despot's iron will, and marry
the Princess Frederick Catharine Of Wurtem-
berg. After the downfall of Napoleon, Mad
sme Patterson (as she was styled for a long
period) visited Europe, and is said to have
encountered jerome Bonsparte. with his
Princess, in the gallery of the Pitt Palace,
in Florence. On meeting, Jerome started
aside, and Was overheard 70 say to the Prin-
oess, "That lady is my former wife" He i'll
stantly left the gallery, and next morning de-
parted from Florence. Napoleon Bonaparte
never succeeded in inducing Pope Plus
VII. to declare Je,ome's first marriage null
and void. To the Pontiff's honor be it said,
he invariably refused, and this protest has OF
late been brought forward in q question in-
volvipg the rank Of the Baltimore Bonapartes
% princes of the Imperial household
Madame Bonspsrte has, since the birth OF
her SOD, generally resided in Baltimore, as
she does at present, in the possession OF
abundant wealth. Notwithstanding her
treatment by Napoleon, she has always ex-
pressed the highest admiration for him, and
prophesies that her grandson is eventually to
succeed him as Emperor of the French-Jc-
rome Napoleon, son of the preceding, born
in England, July 7, 1905. His mother re.
turned to the United States during his boy
hood, and he was reared in Baltimore. lie
entered Harvard College and graduated from
that institution in 1926. .
MIR. Bonsparte had then some Intention OF
pursuing the legal profession, bot, although
he studied for the bar, he never practiced law.
He was married early 10 life to Miss Su.an
Mary Williams, daughter Of Benjamin Will
lisus, esq, originally Of Ro1bury, Mass.-
Miss Williams was . lady of very large for
tune, which. united with Mr.. Bonaparte's
owu~ property, has made him one of the wealth
isstcitizens Of Baltimore. Since bis marriage
he has devoted bis time to the management
of q large estate, and partly 10 agricultural
pursuits. He has two children; u SOD, Je-
rome Napoleon, born in 1882, now in the
French army, and another SOD, Charles DO
seph, born in 1852. For many years MIR.
Bonsparte received o handsome allowance
from bic father, With whom he was on terms
Of intimacy in his several visits to Europe.
During the reigu of Louis Philippe, MIR. Be-
nsparte was PERMITTED to s%cjourn in Paris,
but for . short period only, and under his
mothers name of Patterson. Although ira
Yelling tncoqnito, he attracted much attention
from bis singular Likeness to the great Emper-
or. He has always been thought to resemble
him more than any of the monarch's own
broshers did. He is distinguished by the
same shape ofthe bead and perfect REGULAR
~ of features, bronze countenance, and dark
eyes Of peculiar tint, which NAPOLEON had,
aud which characterize the Corsican people;
His figure, too, 10 cast in the square mould
which We see in the pictures OF Napoleon
Mr.. Bonsparte has long been on good terms
With Louis Napoleon, and since his assump-
ton of the imperial purple, has visited the
French Court With bis son, BY the invitation
Of the Emperor. 10 regard the validity OF
his father's first marriage with Miss Pa!ter-
sop, which, il folly rec ognized by the Court
Of France, would give him precedence over
his half brothers and the Princess Mathilde,
the children Of Jsrome's second marriage, moth
inc h>s a vet t%ranspired of q public nature.
The refusal Of the Pope Plus VII, to con-
1. Nn- . ll- khA