St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-25
YOUNG VICTOR BoNAPARTE.
The Pretty Romance Which Sur
rounded His Birth.
THE efforts of the Bonapartists

rounded His Birth.
The efforts of the Bonapartists to
place Prince Victor Bouaparte on the
throne OF France recalls the romance
which preceded his birth and played an
important role in the shaping Of his
destiny-a romance which begun in
America and the sequel of which took
place in Europe, showing how near he
came to being an American.
Prince Victor's grandfather was J6-
rome Bonaparte, the youngest brother
of Napoleon ]. The story of Jerome's-
first love and marriage to an American,
girl is sad tale of romance. imperial
ambition and diplomacy. When Jerome
was but twelve years old Napoleon i.
had already won fame in Italy. Napo-
leon soon placed his, young brother in,
the French navy, his desire being 10
make him formidable rival to Nelson.
plan by driving the French frigate
which bore jerome into American
waters. Jerome landed in Baltimore.
and there he later fell in love with and
married handsome Elizabeth Patterson,
daughter of Billy Patterson. of Irish
birth and rich merchant of Baltimore.
Betsy, as she was called, was very
ambitious woman, and, when her friends
told her she was about to take an un-
wise step i'll her approaching marriage,
she replied:
Her Famous Reply.
81 would rather be the wife of a
brother of Napoleon Bonaparte for an
hour than the wife OF any other man for
life.'' A reply which has become
famous.
Napoleon was now on the throne and
he was highly diSpleaSed with this mar
riage. and when he became first consul
it was stipulated that jerome and his
brother Lucien be debarred from the
line of succession for marrying against
Napoleon's wishes.
Jerome and his young wife sailed for
Lisbon in 1903, intending to ask for for
giyeneSs. jerome was there arrested
and taken to France by order of the first
consul, after a pathetic au TevOir and
protestatiOns of eternal fidelity to his
wife. She was not allowed to land, so,
having already what is DOW denoml-
mated as 1.-THE big head" Betsy sent the
following message to Napoleon:
Tell the emperor that Madame Bona
parte de mand Sher rights as member OF
the imperial family"
This simply elected smile; so Betsy
then proceeded TO England, where her
son, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte. was
born. Her husband went to Paris by
command of the emperor, little dream
ing that he would never see his wife
again. save with another wife upon his
arm.
The emperor refused to recognize the
marriage, but granted Betsy an annuity
of So. COO for returning to America and
agreeing to renounce the name OF Bona
parte. She. however. returned to Eu-
rope many times. where she figured as
the center of sensations at foreign
courts, her beauty and Queenly bearing
winning her much homage.
Jerome. her husband, was forced by
the emperor to contract bigamOuS
marriage with Catherine of Wurtem-
berg. the kings daughter, and was
soon after made king of WeStphalIa.,
He tried in vain to get BetSy's son, who
was called DO for an abbreviatlon OF.
Bonaparte. She declined an off er from
Jerome OF a ducal crown with $4,000
yearly on these terms: IS
"Westphalia is too small for two
queens. Besides, l already receive S12,=
600 from the emperor, and l would
rather be protected by the wing of the
eagle than De dependent on the Dill OF
a goose"
"Bo" later frequently visited his
father, however, ana was we'll treated
by the family. principally by Princess
Mathilda. his half-sister After marry
ing. against his mothers wishes, Bal
timore woman, ne visited Emperor Ma
poleon Ill, his cousin. at the latter's
invitation. He was legitimized and re-
ceived as member OF the family. His
half-brOther, Prince Napoleon. the son
of his father, by Catherine, and father
of Victor. having quarreled with Ma
poleon Ill, "Bo' came near being
made heir pTesumptiVe, but he was de-
clared Ineligible. So Napoleon and now
Victor became the recognized heirs to
the throne.
Betsy's Old Age.
King Jerome died in 1860, when Betsy
made futile attempt to secure part OF
his estate. She then fell somewhat into
innocuouS desuetudc. In her Old age
her constant companions were carpet
bag aud led umbrella, red being the
color of the Napoleonic dynasty. DO"
died in 1870, and Betsy, his mother, in
1879. at the age of nlnetv-four. She
left fortune OF S1.5OO.0O0 to "BO's"
two sons. jerome and Charles j. The
latter married Miss Nellie Day, of Bos-
ton.
And it was this concentration of cir
cumstance that barely prevented
Prince Victor from being born on Amer
lean soil. He is but thirty years Old.
having been born in 1862. The circum-
stances attending the rather uneventful
life of ''Plon PIon' and Of Victor are OF
too recent date to need repetition. When
Victor seeded from his father
he declared his allegiance to the repub-
lie and renowned all clam to a throne
which he could not see even in the dis
lance. viii he now, at the instance of