Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-14
From Appleton's Ne'0 An'er. 0yc'opedia, Not Ill.,
'1r The Bonapartes of Baltimore.

From Appleton's Nes0 Aner. Cyclopedia, Vol. III.
| as The Bonapartes of Baltimore.
The branch of the family residing in Balti
more, Maryland, was derived from the marriage
of jerome Bonaparte, brother of the Emperor
Napoleon l., with Elizabeth Patterson, daughter
of William Patterson, an eminent merchant II
the city of Baltimore. She was scarce eighteel
wears Of age when Jerome Bonaparte in com
mand of q French frigate, landed in New York
| ip 1903. She OF that time, was distinguished b.
uncommon personal beauty, and is said, moreo
yer to have strikingly resembled the Bonaparte
family. The fame of Napoleon insured for biz
brother Jerome distinguished reception in A
merioa. and wherever he went he was most hos
pitably entertained On visiting Baltimore he
saw Miss Patterson, and soon became much at
tached to her, partiality which she readily re-
turned. and being ambitious in her views of life
she at once accepted his offer of marriage, and
was united to him December Oath, 1908. The
marriage ceremony was performed by the Bishop
of Baltimore, John Carroll, brother of Charlie:
Carroll, of Carrollton, the signer of the Declara
ton of independence, and in accordance witt
the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. The
marriage contract, considered Of Importance
was drawn up by Alexander j. Dallas, subse
quently Secretary of the Treasury, and witnessed
by several official personages, including the May
or of Baltimore. .as.a..-F
Jerome Boneparte remained in America for
full year. visiting, with his wife, various parts o.
the country. At length they embarked for Eu
rope in the Spring of 1906, in the American ship
Erin, and arrived safely at Lisbon. The news
of the marriage proved very distasteful 10 the
dictator of France, partly because Jerome had
dared to marry without his consent, and partly
on account of his own wish to unite oil his
brothers to European P-incesses. Before the
newly welded pair could reach Europe, an order
went forth to every port under French authority,
forbiddng them to land. The hopes of the fair
American were now forever blighted, as Napo-
leon sternly refused to recognize her marriage
Jerome left her at Lisbon, and fastened to Paris,
hoping by q personal interview to soften the
Emperor, directing the vessel to proceeEto Am;
sterdam as the state of his wife's health would
not admit of her undergoing long land Journey,
even if a passport could be obtained. for her,
which was very doubtful. On the Erin's arrival
at Texel Roads, Madame Bonaparte found that
an order had been awaiting her coming, which
prohibited her from landing. She was obliged
to sail at once for England where she establish
ed her abode, and at Camberwell, near London,
July 7, 1906, gave birth to q son, Jerome Napo-
leon Bouaparte, now living in Baltimore. She
never saw her husband again. except 10 a casual
meeting many years after their separation.
Jerome, who was originally much attached TO
his wife, in vain petitioned the Emperor to re-
cognize her, and was finally obliged to yield to
the despot's iron will, and marry the Prlncess
Frederick Catharine of Wurtumberg. After the
downfall of Napoleon, Madame Patterson (as she
was styled for long period visited Europe, and
is said to have encountered jerome Bonaparte,
with his Princess, in the gallery Of the Pitt Pal,
ace, in Florence. On meeting, Jerome started
aside, and was overheard to say to the Princess,
"That lady is my former WIFE," lie instantly
left the gallery, and next morning departed from
Florence. Napoleon BoDaparte never succeeded
in inducing Pope Plus VII. to declare Jeromes
first marriage null and void. To the Pontlif $
honor be it said, he invariably refused, and this
protest has of late been brought forward IN o
question involving the rank of the BALTIMORE
Bonapartes as princes of the Imperial household.
Madame Bonaparte has, since the birth OF hef
son, generally resided in Baltimore, as she does
at present, in the possession OF abundant wealth.
Notwithstanding her treatment by Napoleon, sue
mas always expressed the sighest admiTanon lor
him. and propheses that ller grandson is even
luallY W SuCCccu 90 Va sHN S~SN-
jerome Napoleon, son of the preceding, born
in England, July z, 1906. Ills mother returned
to the United States during his boyhood, and ne
was reared in Baltimore. he entered Harvard
College and graduated from that Institution IN
1926.
MIR. Bonaparte had then some intention OF pur'
suing the legal profession, but, although ne stu
died for the bar, he never practlsed law tie
was married early in life to Miss Susan Mary
Williams, daughter Of Benjamin Williams Esq,
originally of RoXbury, Mass. Miss Williams was
lady of very large fortune, which, united with
Mr.. Bonaparte's own property, has made him
one OF the wealthiest citizens of Baltimore.-
Since his marriage he has devoted his time to
the management of large estate, and part!y TO
agricultural pursuits. He has two children; a
son, Jerome Napoleon, born in 1882, now in the
French army, and another son, Charles Joseph,
born in 1852. For many years MIR. Bonaparte
received handsome allowance from his father,
with whom he was on terms of intimacy IN his
several visits to Europe. During the reign OF
Louis Philippe Mr. Bonaparte was permitted to
soiourn in Paris, but for short period only, ana
under his mothers name OF Patterson. Al
though travelling iacognito, be attracted much
attention from his singular likeness to the great
Emperor. He has always been thought, to re-
semble him more than any of the monsrch's Owl
brothers did. He is distinguished by the same
shape of the head and perfect regularity OF fea'
lures, bronze countenance, and dark eyes OF Pc
cnliar tint, which Napoleon had, and which
characterize the Corsican people. bis hgure
too is cast in the square mould which we see In
I the pictures of Napoleon. Mr. Bonaparte has
long been on good terms with Louis Napoleon
! -, n: tho imDnrial DurDle
has visited the French Court with bis son, by
the invitation of the Emperor. In regard to the
validity of his fathers first marriage with Mis-
Patterson, which, if fully recognized by the
Court of France, would give him precedence
over his half brothers and the Princess Mathilde
the children of Jerome's second marriage, moth
ling has as yet transpired of public nature.
| The refusal of the Pope Pins VII, to confirm
the order of Napoleon l., declaring the American
marriage null and void, is still maintained by the
, Pspal Court. But up to this time, all transac
tions etfacting the rank OF Mr.. Bonaparte anf
his children are considered of q delicate nature
in which the family alone, and not the commu
nitv. have the right of inquiry. tits well under
stood. however, that Jerome Bonaparte is VIC
lIenty opposed to the recognition of precedence
for the Baltimore Bonapartes, and, as far as ht
I ia himself concerned, refuses to acknowledge
bis eon and grandson by any name but that o
Patterson. Jerome Napoleon, son of the prece
ding, born in Baltimore, in 1882. He entered
Harvard T1 College, where he remained two years
Int Int wos transferred to West Point Military Acad
| emv, where he graduated high in his class ir
1870 He remained but short time in the A
merican army, for having visited France witt
his father. he attracted the favorable notice O.
Nanoleon III, and resigning his commission ir
the service of the United States, entered that Of
the o French as sub.eutenant in the army. Hs
took Dart in the operations of the French and
English allies in the Orimea, and served at The