Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-07
A Bonaparte in the Cabinet.

The next change in President Roose-
velts cabinet, SO it has been an
nounced, will be the appointment of
Charles j. Bonaparte OF Baltimore as
secretary Of the navy to succeed Secre-
tary Morton who will resign to go into
business in New York. The happy
faculty possessed by the President OF
selecting exceptionally, strong men for
the important positions under him is
well exemplified in this instance. and
not even the anti-imperialistS have
been able to muster up a SILVER at the
prospect that a collateral descendant
OF the great Napoleon il to be one OF
the highest officers Of our government
and in line of succession to the presi-
dency. As a matter of fact, Charles ].
Bonaparte is an American in the big
gest and broadcast sense. He Is lead
ing citizen Of Maryland and last fall,
was the one Republican candidate for
presidential elector to ne chosen over
the Democratic list.
OF general interest, and worth re-
peating at this time, is the romantic
story Of his ancestry. lie is the grand
son OF Jerome Bonaparte. who was the
brother Of that marvellous Little
Corporal who became rdlec Of France
and most Of Europe. The romance of
the marriage of Elizabeth Patterson. of
Baltimore, to Jerome Bonaparte is
familiar to students OF history, but
may not be well known to the general
public-hence this retelling. During 4
visit to Baltimore in 1903, Jerome
Bonaparte, then a French naval officer,
met and fell in love with Miss Patter-
son, whose father, owning a line of
clipper ships, was accounted the rich
est citizen Of the Maryland metropolis.
The young people-he WAS IL and she
year younger-met at ball; it was
case of love at first sight. The father
sent his daughter to Virginia to get her
away from ner French admirer. but it
did no good. Bonaparte pressed his
suit through correspondence. the faith
er finally relented and the marriage, on
December "a. 1903. was the greatest
social event Baltimore had ever
known.
Napoleon had issued his orders
against the marriage. but the younger
brother paid no attention to them. He
lived with his young bride in Balti-
more until the spring OF 1906. When
they sailed in one of her fathers ships
for France. Napoleon had sent word
that il Jerome came with his wife he
would not be permitted to land; but if
ne fOrsoOk her, all would be forgiven.
Arrived at the French coast, one of
Napoleon's warships was there to see
that Madame Bonaparte did not land.
Jerome was permitted to go to Paris.
The wife then sailed around to Am
sterdam, but here again She was pre-
vented from landing and was COM
PEELED to go to England. AT Dover her
landing was witnessed by a great
crowd. She had become an object of
much interest to international politics,
and 80 great was the excitement in
England that the ministry sent n regi-
ment of soldiers from London to Dover
to prevent trouble. Shortly after she
,I,n Irth IN
son. She remained in England. receiv-
ing there many messages OF affection
from her husband.
Napoleon tried to induce the Pope
to dissolve their marriage, but was I'M
able to do so. Finally ne had the inn
perial council of state pass n decree of
divorce. After this Madame Bona
parte returned to America. Her hus-
band became recOnciled to the separ.
alton and married Princess Catherine
Frederick. of Westphalia. and reigned
as king Of Westphalia from 1907 until
the Germans conquered the territory
six years later. After repeated efforts
to have her sons legitimacy declared
she was finally granted a formal trial
by the French government under
Napoleon III. Jerome, the father, ap-
pealed to the council of state to forbid
''his son to assume the name Of Bona
parte," but the council granted
Madame Bonapartes petition. The
son, thus formally recognized, was
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte. Charles
]. Bonaparte, is his second son. He
was born in Baltimore in 1851, Is
graduate of Harvard and Is reputed to
be very wealthy.