The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-18
THE AMERICAN BoNAPARrEs.
Outlines OF WeIi-known Romantic
Story Recalled to Memory.
LFrom the Philadelphia Press

t&Aom thc AhiidNOipuid IlCoc.l
Prince Napoleon, who died only the other
day, was the son Of jerome, the youngest
brother of Napoleon the Great. This fact
brings nearer to us that great series of events
beginning with "a Whit Of grape shot" and
ending with Waterloo. His death, moreover,
has peculiarly vivid interest for Americans
because it recalls the story of the first love
of his father, Jerome. for young Amer
lean girl. Betsey Patterson of Baltimore.
1t is a said tale Of romance, imperial ambi-
tion. and diplomacy. Napoleon had already
won undyipg fame in Italy, when his young
brother. Jerome, was but IL years of age.
He soon entered the French navy. for 1t was
his great brothers ambition to make him q
fighter on the seas fit to cope with Nelson.
1t was an English frigate that destroyed this
plan bydriving the French frigate bearing Jer-
omeint0 American waters. At Baltimore Jer-
ONE fell madly in love with and married Eliza
beth the beautiful daughter of William Pat
terson, rich merchant and an Irishman by
birth. Elizabeth, or Betsey as she was called,
had consuming ambition, and when friends
opposed the marriage she said: 81 would
rather be the wife of a brother of Napoleon
for one hour than the wife of any other man
for life."
Napoleon was highly displeased with the
match, because he already saw himself on
the throne, and wished his brothers to marry
only "blue bloods." Jerome and his wife
only learned of the establishment of the en-
pire when about to sail from New York to
beg the forgiveness of the FIRST Consul. They
learned, at the same time that both Jerome
and his brother LucieD, were declared from
a inn nf TO-
Napoleon's wishes. Nevertheless the yorng
couple, still hoping forgiveness and advance
ment. sailed for Libson In 1906.
There Jerome was arrested and taken to
France, after fearful adieu and protesta.
tions of everlasting fidelity to his wife, who
was not allowed to land. She sent a mes
sage to the Emperor which tickled him i'm
mensely.
"Teli the Emperor" she said, that Nine.
Bonaparte demands her rights as member
She proceeds TO England where a boy was
soon born to her and christened Jerome Ma
poleOn B0naparte. jerome, the father, pro-
ceeded to Paris. little thinking that he
would never see Betsey again, save as
stranger with another wife upon his arm.
Napoleon positively refused to recognize.
the marriage, but promised Rstesyy a. an ral
pension OF $12 900. presss1ing she would re-
turn 70 ATc,.ca and renounce the name of
iseEaparte, which conditions she accepted.
Europe and figured as the centre OF sensa-
lions In foreign courts, winning the homage,
not only OF her husbands mother and other
members OF the family, but also from the
and even the equity old Louis xvii, who
tried to have her appear at court, but as she
still received pension from the exiled EN-
peror she declined.
Her husband, Jerome, thus separated from
her was compelled by his brother TO marry
Catherine the daughter of the King of Wnr
temburg.. Soon after he was made King of
Westphalia. He then sent to America for
BetseY's child. "Bo"-an abbreviation of
Bonaparte. She refused to give him up, and
IN reply to the offer from her husband of a
ducal crown, with an income Of $4,000 a
year, she sent back the scornful message:
"Westphalia is too small for two queens be-
sides, already receive $4,000 year from
the Emperor. and would rather be pro-
pendent on the bill of a goose"
She ever afterward spoke with contempt
OF her husband, although "Bo" frequently
visited his fathers family in Europe, where
ne was treated as SON and a brother, his
" fond of him. Afterward ''Bo" married a
Baltimore lady, causing his mother, Madame
Betsy, great anger by doing so. His cousin.
Emperor Napoleon Ill, invited him to
France, where ne was legitimized and re-
ceived as member OF the family. His half
quarrelled with the Emperor, and there was
at one time strong intention to make "Bo"
the heir presumptiye, but ultimately "Bo"
was declared ineligible. He declined duchy
refusing the condition attached of surrender
Ing the name OF Bonaparte. On the death of
King Jerome In 1890. his American wife,
Betsy Patterson, contested his will She
was, however, refused share of his proper
ty;
The letters show great contempt for her
naftVa land SbQ WI fa hor fo{t
Florence, in 1929, as follows:
"A parent cannot make silk purse of
sow's ear, and you found that you could not
make q sow's ear of silk purse. 1t was i'm
to the obscure destiny of a Baltimore house
keeper, and 1t was absurd to attempt 1t after
l had married the brother of an Emperor
| had not the meanness of spirit to descend
from SUCH an elevation to the deplorable con-
ditlon of being the wife of an American.
II often tried to reason myself into the
courage necessary to commit suicide when /
contemplated long life to be passed in a
trading town, where everything was dis
gushing to my tastes, and where everything
contrasted so strongly with my wishes.
II never could have degraded myself 5y
marriage with people who, after l had
married prince, became my interiors.
"The Americans themselves had sense and
good taste enough to feel that l had risen
above them. and have always treated me
with the respect and Difference due to a
superior.
when first heard that my son could con-
descend to marry any one in Baltimore l
nearly went mad.
II repeat that would have starved, died.
rather than married any one in Baltimore"
In her old age Betsy's constant compap
ions were carpet bag and red umbrella,
the color of the Napoleonic dynasty "Bo"
died in 1870. His mother survived till 1879,
dying at the age Of "a years. and leaving a
fortune of ri 6O0. ON Rnta fwn
Jerome and Charles j. Bonaparte.
Charles j. married Miss Nellie Day of
BOSTON,. who Is granddaughter of Mr.,
James O. Dunn, merchant of Boston.
Prince Victor, who succeeds to the Bona
partist claims, was born In 1862, and edu-
whence, no doubt, bombastic manifesto to
the French people NAV be looked for hefnra