Evening star., 1936-12-20
By John Clagetf Proctor.


Edward VIII, now the Duke OF
| Windsor, and his intended
L marriage to Mrs. Wallis War
6eld Simpson, q one-time Baltimore
belle, for whom the former King gave
up his crown, has some similar angles
to the marriage in this country Of
Jerome Bonaparte and Elizabeth Pat.
terson. another famous beauty OF the
nearby Oriole City of Maryland. And
OF course there are some glaring diff
ferences, one in particular being that
the King Of England forfeited his
crown for the woman he loved"
whereas. In the case Of Miss Patterson,
her spouse. Jerome Bonaparte, at the
command Of his august brother, Ma
poleon I. who refused to recognize the
marriage, deserted his wife and was
soon thereafter married to another.
Regardless of this, however, we cam
not help being interested in the love
affair OF the young Bonaparte and
the lady he married, and Of course
we must confess that the present case
OF the King of England and Mrs.
Simpson has produced thrills which
sven centuries cannot obliterate.
THE affairs of these two couples are
also Of special local importance,
since all the parties have visited this
city at one time or another-Prince
Jerome in 1903 and at other times
following his marriage, when he was
accompanied by his wife. Naturally.
many will remember the visit here
t1l 1919 of the Prince of Wales, later
King Edward VIII, when he and a
part Of his staff were quartered in the
Perry Belmont house, 1918 New
Hampshire avenue. AS will be re-
called. he arrived here on November
IL, the first anniversary OF Armistice
day, and left here three days later.
leaving fond memories Of his visit and
OF his charming, unassuming manner.
And 1t may be taken for granted that
Mrs. Simpson is no stranger to Wash
ington, for she has very likely visited
here many times in the past and in
more recent years probably stopped
at the home Of her aunt, Mrs. Bu-
ehanan Merryman. 1911 r street.
The story OF Elizabeth Patterson's
marriage to Jerome Bonaparte, young
est brother Of Napoleon I, has often
been told and no doubt will be related
many times more, since it tells Of one
of the most interesting international
marriages of all time involving an
American citizen. And when we con-
slider that it took place only about 40
miles from Washington, at time
when the first consul was the out
standing figure in the world and that
1t did not have his approval, we can,
to some degree at least, appreciate
what an unfortunate position our
country was placed in at the time by
having one Of its fair daughters marry,
after a brief courtship. the youthful,
dapper captain Of the French Navy.
Jerome Bonaparte was Just q nice
BOY, without any Of the aggressive
spirit OF his distinguished brother.
He was born at Ajaccio, the capital of
Corsica, an island in the Mediter-
kanean, in 1874, and after brief but
uneventful period in the army, ex-
cept the fighting of duel, in which
he was apparently worsted, he was
transferred as q cadet to the naval
branch of the service. and it was
while serving as captain that he es-
capped the British, who were guarding
the port Of st. Pierre, Island Of Mar.
Unique, and landed at Norfolk, Va,
whence he came to the District of CO.
iumbia in search Of the French COM
missaire, Pichon, who was then re-
siding in Georgetown.
EVIDENTLY the commissaire's ac-
commodations were not adequate
for the distinguished visitor, and his
contemplated early departure was
rather urged. However, In the mean
time, he received an invitation from
his old friend, Joshua Barney, who
had served in the French Navy, to
stop with him at his home in Balti-
more. And this was the greatest;
mistake Of his life, for in accepting
the future commodore's hospitality
he not only embroiled himself in life
long trouble. but wrecked the life Of
an estimable lady as well.
It was some time afterward that
he was introduced to Miss Patterson
by his host, when love and courtship
rapidly ensued. followed few months
later by marriage, much to the regret
of her father, William Patterson, and
70 the disgust of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Mr.. Patterson was born In Donegal.
ireland, In 1852. his father having
been q farmer with q large family;
his mother, Elizabeth Peoples. Both
were said to be descended from Eng
lish and Scottish families that had
settled in Ireland after the conquest
OF that country. With an ordinary
education, his parents sent him to
Philadelphia when but IA years old,
and there he was employed by an
Irish shipping merchant. He was in
dustrious and thrifty, and by the time
he reached his majority he was estab-
nshed In business for himself.
He was patriot and during the
American Revolution, when Washing
toms army was before Boston, with
hardly enough ammunition to fire q
salute. q cargo of powder arrived In
one Of his vessels, Just In time to be
Of the greatest value.
He amassed a fortune. Indeed. Il
Is said that at the time Of the mar
riage Of his daughter Elizabeth he