The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-08
WAS AN AMERICAN PRINCE.
Interesting Career Of the Great Na-
pOleOn'S Grand Nephew.

pOlCOA UIdllu NEPHEW.
Col. Jerome Bonaparte of Baltimore
Once Hoped for the Throne of France.
Story of an Ambitious Life With
Scenes on Two Continents and Sew
eraI Generations-Won Honor When
a Enthusiastically Prominent in
Baltimore and Newport, Where His
Death Was Not Expected.
Colonel Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte,
whose death, at Beverly, Mass, on Sun
day, was reported in the MORNING News
dispatches, was the eldest grandson of
jerome Bonaparte, king of Westphalia;
and granddaughter of Napoleon Bona
parte. OF him the New York Herald says:
Although born in America, and for most
of his life resident of Baltimore, he en-
joyed at one time the distinction of being
the hope of the Bonapartist party in
France, and upon the downfall of Napo-
leon III. was pushed forward for the re-
gency. His followers at that time hoped
he would succeed to the throne of France.
The story of Colonel Bonaparte is a ro-
nance and it began two generations be-
fore his birth.
His grandfather was Jerome Bcnaparte,
a younger brother of the great Napoleon.
The first consul of France conceived the
idea of making this younger brother one
of the rulers of the earth, and with that
end in view, early in life, he gave him an
important command in the navy. The
young man rapidly advanced, and in 1903, =
as Capt. Bonaparte, brought his ship to
America.
And now begins the story of those
events which made the life of the man
just deceased a romance.
Capt. Bonaparte, at a ball given by
Samuel Chase in Baltimore, met Eliza
beth Patterson, daughter of William Pat
terson, a ship owner and the second
wealthiest man in the state of Maryland
1t was case of love at first sight on both
sides.
OPPOSED THE MATCH.
William Patterson opposed the match
perceiving that it would be displeasing to
the ruler of France. But the lovers per-
sisted, and eventually they were married
in great state in Baltimore by Arch
bishop Carroll. Capt. Bonaparte had not
consulted his brother
But such a match could only result in
trouble. When Napoleon heard of it he
was very angry and positively refused to
recognize his brothers. American wife.
He sent word to America that he would
never permit her to set foot on French
soil. He doubtless thought his dictum
would settle the matter forever.
The great Napoleon, however, was mis-
taken. He did not know of what stern
stuff his American sister-in-law was
made. Nine. Napoleon laughed at the
decree and declared that she would go to
France with her husband. jerome
agreed. and the two set sail for France.
But the ruler of France was not to be
thwarted. AS the ship approached the
shores of France it was met by two men
of-war. Capt. Bonaparte was taken off,
but his American wife was driven away
and forced to take refuge In England.
Once in France, Capt. Bonaparte
quickly yielded to his brother. Napoleon
promised him to care for his wife, grant
ing her an income of $4,000 francs year.
He coupled this with the condition that
she should not retain the name of Bona
parte-a condition, however, which the
plucky wife. refused to accede to. Ma
poleon endeayored to have the marriage
declared void by the Pope, but Plus VII.
refused to grant the request. Napoleon,
however, was not to be baked, and
caused a royal decree of divorce TO be
passed.
TOOK ANOTHER WIFE.
The subsequent career of her husband
may be summed up in a few words. In
1907 he was made King of Westphalia
and married to the Princess Catherine of
Wurtemburg. In 1918, on the fall of the
Bonapartes, he was deposed and eX-
lied.
Meantime Nine. Bonaparte, proudly dis
daining the offers of the royal family, re-
manned in England until after the birth
of her son, and then returned to America.
This son was the late Jerome NaDOleOn |
BOnaparte and the father of Col jerome
Napoleon Bonaparte, who has just died.
He had a second son, Charles Joseph
BOnapar e, who has attained some prOmi-
hence at the Baltimore bar.
The first jerome Napoleon BOnaparte,
Col Bonapafte's father must have proved
great disappointment 10 his mother.
She was ambitious in the extreme, and
the object of her life, after her desertion
by her husband, was the attainment of
what she conceived to be her rights and
those of her descendants. She strenu- !
ously insisted to the day of her death that |
she was the rightful wife of the King of |
Westphalia, and when he and his issue !
were declared in the succession to the |
throne of France she held that her son |
was the rightful heir. She spent her life |
in asserting these claims, and gained great |
sympathy in Europe, where she lived |
most of the time.
Her son, however, though not adverse
to the honOrs claimed for him by his |
mother, declined to be an active factor Ia |
the affair. He preferred a quiet life, and |
lived most of it in Baltimore. Hestu died |
law. but did not practice He developed |
great shrewdness in finances, and made !
his inheritance a great fortune.
TURNED TO BIER GRANDSON.
D. &c hon mi T.