Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-14
NAPOLEoN's PUTATIvE SON.

N~SA>Ass
Island and buried in Lone Mountain Gene
terry" is the heading of an article published
in the San Francisco World that will cause
many New Londoner to open his eyes and
wonder he did not guess 1t before. The ar
tice accredits Napoleon Bonaparte with
being the father of the late John Gordon,
the matchmaker, who formerly resided here
and notice of whose death at San Francisco
appeared in these columns some weeks
since The resemblance Mr.. Gordon bore
to his Iutalive father, the Emperor, was
of,:n !he subject Of comment, but regarded
only as coincidence. The story, however,
is best Told by the Horld as follows:
1.-The matrun Of Napoleon's prison-or
perhaps it would be more correct to speak
of lar as the housekeeper-appointed by
| th% British government to attend to the
coufcrts OF tho exiled monarch, was a
! con2eiy woman in carly middle life, and
,oubsoss size. in common with The rest of
| hi. attendants, coold never quite forget that
har charge had once worn an imperial
crown. Napoleon, like Jove in Dryden's
i'm oral poem, stamped an image Of him.
self" on ;he nearest approach to a fair
Olympia" that the somewhat ssraitened re-
annrces nf St. Helenas Isle could furnish.
tic result nua the. birth uf boy, who,
y pei, with ;hr Dar-5iuis!er Of the Bona
nrnss NJ ti= cscuichecn, could yet, 1t is be-
iinyci. ,laim more kindred, as he certainly
hcr~ - ;,lnca closer resemblance of feature
ap0 G.ur. 20 tie race than Napoleon III
ever colsu.
'Aitel the ,letth Of the exiled Emperor
the housckeepcr left St. Helena and went
-: b.,.. l,<,, will,
she married matchmaker Of the name of
Gordon. vlo adopted the boy and bestowed
| on hin his nwn name. BY and By the young
fellow grow to manhood, learned his adopt
ed fathers trade, and in the course of years
wandered TO New London, Conn. where he
soon established himself in large and
thriving business rs q matchmaker and jew
elcr. He became man of influence in that
par! If the country. mixing much in poll
tics. lie even took quite prominent part
in journalism, especially during the contest
which preceded the selection of League Is.
land as The site OF navy yard. New
London WAS the rival of that point for the
possession of the yard, and long and ami
mated discussion on the relative claims OF
the two points was carried on between
Gordon and Gideon Welles, then Secretary
of the Navy The literary contributions Of
the former for this controversy, though un-
successful in attaining their end, were
marked with great ability and earned for
him the respect and gratitude of the people
of New London He chiefly contributed to
the Norwich Bulletin and the New London
| Star, most of his articles Oh the navy-yard
question appearing in the latter paper.
"Soon afterwards be came to this city,
having been probably seized with the Cali.
| fornia fever, then epidemic in the East. He
entered into business with Mr. Tucker, on
the corner of Geart and Kearny streets, and
was engaged with him for about sixteen
years Atterward he was for time with
Mr.. Durkin, and later set up in small way
! for himself ct 231 Kearny street, where he
remained until he died. He was man of
| very considerable business ability, but some
| what reserved and only sociable with SO.
| leet circle of friends.
"Gordon's face and figure bore remark
ably striking resemblance to those of his i'm.
| perial father, and strangers who knew moth
| ING of the romantic story of his birth fire.
auently noticed it. He was very reticent on
the subject himself, but when mellowed by
the social cup he would give his mind very
| freely, and was by no means unwilling to
admit his relationship TO the "Corsican con-
oueror" At some moments be, apparently
unconsciously, assumed the very attitude
and expression of the picture of his ancestor.
Born at St. Helena, he lies buried ut
Lone Mountain-a proof that, notwithstand-
ing philosophic aphorisms to the contrary,
there is often good deal more than span
between the cradle and the grave. .'-Nem
London Conn., Day.