The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-07
WIFE OF A BONAPARTE.
HISTORY OF THE FAMILY OF Ma
POLEONS YOUNG BROTHER.

How the General and Emperor Became
Connected with American Relatives
Betsy Patterson's Peculiar Position IL
French History.
The late Prince Napoleon was the son o
Jerome, the youngest brother of Napoleon
the Great. This fact brings nearer to u.
that great series of events beginning with
"a Whit of grapeshot" and ending will
Waterloo. His death, moreover, has {
peculiar vivid interest for Americans, be
his father. Jerome, for a young American
girl. Betsy Patterson, of Baltimore.
1t Is sad tale of romance. imperial am
bition and diplomacy. Napoleon had al
ready won undying fame in Italy wher
his young brother, jerome, was but twelve
years of age. He soon entered the French
navy, for it was his great brothers ambi
ton to make of him fighter on the seas
fit to cope with Nelson. 1t was an English
frigate that destroyed this plan by driving
the French frigate bearing Jerome into
American waters. At Baltimore Jerome
fell madly in love with and married Eliza
beth, the beautiful daughter of William
Patterson, rich merchant, and an Irish
man by birth. Elizabeth, Or Betsy, as she
was called, had a consuming ambition, and
when friends opposed the marriage she
said, II 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 this
match, because he already sa0 himself on
the throne and wished his brothers to
marry only "blue bloods." Jerome and his
wife only learned of the establishment of
the empire 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, Lucien,
were debarred from the line of succession
for marrying against Napoleon's wishes
Nevertheless the young couple, still hoping
Lisbon in 1905
HISTORY OF "Bo'
There Jerome was arrested and taken to
Franco, after fearful adieu and protesta-
tons of everlasting fidelity to his wife, who
was not allowed to land. She sent mes
sage to the emperor which tickled him i'm
mensely.
''Tell the emperor" she said, "that Nine
Bonaparte demands her rights as mem
Der of the imperial family"
She proceeded to England, where a boy
was soon born to her and christened
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte. Jerome, the
father, proceeded to Paris, little thinking
that he would never see Betsy again save
as stranger and with another wife upon
his arm.
Napoleon positively refused to recognize
the marriage, but promised Betsy an an
nual pension of $4,000, providing she
would return to America and renounce
the name of Bonaparte, which conditions
she accepted.
Her husband, Jerome, thus separated
from her, was compelled by his brother to
marry Catharine, thedaughter of the king
of Wurtemburg Soon after he was made
America for Betsy's child, "Bo'-an alb
breviation of Bonaparte. She refused to
give him up. and in reply to the offer from
her husband of a ducal crown, with an in
come of $4,000 a year, she sent back the
message: "Westphalia is too
small for two queens; besides, already
receive s12, 900 q year from the emperor
and l would rather be protected by the
wings of the eagle than be dependent 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
be was treated as son and a brother, his
half sister, Princess Mathilde, being es-
pecially fond of him. Afterward 'Bo"
married a Baltimore lady, causing his
mother, Madame Betsy, great anger by
doing So His cousin, Emperor Napoleon
III, invited him to France where he was
egitimized and received as a member of
the family. His half brother, the son of
Jerome by Catharine, quarreled with the
emperor, and there was at one time
strong intention to make "Bo" the heir
but ultimately "Bo" was de-
,lared ineligible.
BETSY'S POSITION.
He declined duchy, refusing the condi-
ion attached of surrendering the name of
Bonaparte On the death of King Jerome
n 1860 his American wife, Betsy Patter-
son, contested his will. She was, however,
refused a share of his property.
The letters show a great contempt for
ner native land. She wrote to her father
rom Florence in 1929 as follows:
"A parent cannot make silk purse of
lows ear, and you found that you could
lot make sow's ear of a silk purse. 1t
vas impossible to bend my talents and
ny ambition TO the obscure destiny of a
Baltimore housekeeper, and it was absurd
% attempt it after | had married the
brother of an emperor. / had not the
neanness of spirit to descend from such
elevation to the deplorable condition of
,eing 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
, trading town, where everything was dis
,usting to my tastes, and where every
hing contrasted so strongly with my
wishes
Il never could have degraded myself by
marriage with people who, after | had
married a prince, became my interiors
The Americans themselves had sense
md good taste enough to feel that / had
.isen above them, and have always treated
ne with the respect and Difference due TO q
superior.
when l first heard that my son could
,ondescend to marry any one in Baltimore
nearly went mad
~ repeat that l would have starved,
lied, rather than marry any one in Balti-
more"
In her old age Betsy's constant compan-
ons were carpet bag and red umbrella,
he color of the Napoleonic dynasty. DO"
lied in 1870 His mother survived till 1879,
lying at the age of ninety-four years, and
eaving fortune of 81, 5eo, 900 10 Bo's two
ons, Jerome and Charles j. Bonaparte-
Charles J. married Miss Nellie Day. of
Boston. who is a granddaughter OF Mr..
James c. Dunn. a merchant OF Boston
Philadelphia Press
In Doubt
Ora ro,r has Iaar 1tscoverad vho thinks