THE BALTIMORE BONAPARTES
by Anon
(The Young Englishwoman, June 1875)
The story of the Baltimore Bonapartes is one of the saddest but most interesting chapters in the romance of modern history. It is now more than seventy years since Jerome - the youngest and weakest of Napoleon’s brothers - arrived in New York in command of a French frigate. Napoleon Bonaparte, the conqueror of Egypt and Italy, the first Consul of France, was then filling the world with the éclat of his genius, and Jerome was received with distinction in the "first circles" of New York.
Early in the autumn of 1803, young Bonaparte visited Baltimore. Parties, dinners and receptions were given in his honour. He was the lion of the day. The leading citizens of Baltimore contended for the privilege of entertaining the distinguished young stranger.
At the elegant and hospitable home of Samuel Chase, one of the Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence, Captain Bonaparte was introduced to Miss Elizabeth Patterson. This lady, though not yet eighteen, was one of the reigning belles of Baltimore. To the exquisite beauty of her person were added a sprightly wit, fascinating manners, and many brilliant accomplishments. An immediate and ardent attachment sprang up between the handsome and dashing young Frenchman and the beautiful Baltimore girl, an attachment which increased, day after day, as they were constantly thrown together either at home or in society. In spite of the warnings of friends, in spite of the remonstrances of her father, Miss Patterson determined to marry, declaring that she "would rather be the wife of Jerome Bonaparte for an hour than the wife of any other man for life." Finding her so firm and determined in the matter, Mr. Patterson at last gave a reluctant consent to the marriage.
The marriage of Jerome Bonaparte and Elizabeth Patterson took place on Christmas Eve, 1803. The ceremony was performed by the Right Rev. John Carroll, Bishop of Baltimore, afterward Archbishop and Primate of the American Catholic Church. The marriage contract was drawn up by Alexander J. Dallas, and the wedding was witnessed by the Mayor and other prominent citizens of Baltimore. Mr. William Patterson, the father of the bride, was one of the merchant princes of Baltimore, ranking in the mercantile world with John Jacob Astor, of New York, and Stephen Girard, of Philadelphia. During the American Revolution he had freely given large sums of money to support the war for independence, and had enjoyed the intimate friendship of Washington, La Fayette, and other eminent leaders.
Shortly after their marriage, Jerome and his wife made an extended tour in the Northern and Eastern States. In Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Albany, and other cities which they visited, they were received with the distinction due to the brother of the First Consul of France.
But trouble was not long in coming. Even during this bridal tour, alarming news arrived from France. Napoleon was furious when he heard of Jerome’s marriage; he immediately directed that his allowance should be stopped and that he should return to France by the first frigate; otherwise he would he regarded as deserter. At the same time, Jerome was forbidden to bring his wife to France; and all the captains of French vessels were prohibited from receiving on board "the young person to whom he had attached himself," it being the intention of the First Consul that she should not, on any pretext whatever, be permitted to enter France, and if she succeeded in so doing, she was to be sent back to the United States without delay.
Jerome was frightened. He hesitated, at first, to return, fearing to meet Napoleon in his anger. He delayed his departure from America week after week and month after month, vainly hoping that time would soft the heart of the tyrant, and reconcile him to his marriage. At last, on the morning of the 11th of March, 1805, Jerome and his wife embarked at Baltimore for Europe, and on the 2nd of April arrived at Lisbon. Here they had at once a proof of Napoleon’s despotic power. A French guard was placed around their vessel, and Madame Jerome was not allowed to land. An ambassador from Napoleon waited upon her, and asked what he could do for Miss Patterson. To whom she replied:
"Tell your master that Madame Bonaparte is ambitious, and demands her rights as a member of the Imperial family."
Soon after arriving at Lisbon, Jerome hastened to Paris, hoping, by a personal interview, to win Napoleon over to a recognition of the marriage. On his way through Spain he met Junot, who had just been appointed Minister to Portugal. Junot endeavoured to dissuade him from resisting the wishes of Napoleon. Jerome declared that he would never abandon his beautiful young wife.
When Jerome reached Paris, he requested an interview with Napoleon, which was refused. He was told to address the Emperor by letter, which he did, and received an answer that put an end to all his hope concerning his wife. This was the substance of Napoleon’s reply: -
"Your marriage is null, both in a religious and legal point of view. I will never acknowledge it. Write to Miss Patterson to return to the United States, and tell her it is not possible to give things another turn. On condition of her going to America, I will allow her a pension during her life of sixty thousand francs per year, provided she does not take the name of my family, to which she has no right, her marriage having no existence."
Napoleon declared that Jerome’s marriage was "null, both in a religious and legal point of view," he was expressing his own wishes rather than stating the facts. At the time of Jerome’s marriage to Miss Patterson, Napoleon was only the First Consul of France, and could have no control over the members of his family. Jerome's mother and eldest brother, Joseph, were the only persons whose consent was necessary, and they concurred in approving the marriage. The marriage had been celebrated according to the prescribed rites of the Catholic Church, of which Jerome professed to be a member, and the ceremony had been performed by the highest dignitary of that Church in America.
When Jerome was at length admitted to the presence of his brother, Napoleon thus addressed him: -
"So, sir, you are the first of the family who has shamefully abandoned his post. It will require many splendid actions to wipe off that stain from your reputation. As to your love affair with your little girl, I do not regard it."
In the meantime, what had become of the "beautiful young wife," left by her husband a stranger in a foreign land, surrounded by open enemies and false friends? Toward the end of April, Madame Jerome Bonaparte, finding that she would not be allowed to land at Lisbon, or any port from which Napoleon had power to exclude her sailed for Amsterdam. Here she arrived on the 1st of May. Napoleon, who was now the absolute master of the Continent of Europe, in anticipation of her arrival in Holland, had ordered Schimmelpenninck, the Grand Pensionary of the Batavian Republic, to prevent "Madame Bonaparte, or any person assuming that name," from landing in any port of that country. In compliance with this despotic command, when the ship "Erin," with Madame Bonaparte, arrived in the Texel Roads, she was ordered off immediately, and all persons were forbidden to hold any communication with the ship under a severe penalty. The "Erin" remained in the Texel eight days, during which time she was strictly guarded, being placed between a sixty-four gun ship and a frigate.
Excluded from the ports of Continental Europe, and fearing that an attempt would be made upon her life if she stayed in Texel, Madame Bonaparte sailed for England. Her first and only child was born at Camberwell, London, on the 7th of July, 1805, and named Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte. Two months after this event the young mother and her child embarked for the United States, and arrived in Baltimore after a prosperous voyage of four weeks.
The weak and fickle Jerome soon forgot his "dear little wife," as he once was fond of calling her. After leaving her at Lisbon in April, 1805, Jerome addressed her frequent and tender letters, declaring repeatedly that his "dear little wife was the sole object of all his love, for whom he would be willing to give up his life."
His often repeated determination "never to abandon his beautiful young wife" melted away before the frowns and brilliant promises of Napoleon. In a few months after separating from her at Lisbon he consented to a divorce. As a reward for his pusillanimity Jerome was created a Prince of the Empire and raised to the rank of Admiral in the French navy. On the 22nd August, 1807, he was married to the Princess Catherine of Wűrtemberg, with all the pomp and ceremony with which Napoleon knew so well how to dazzle the French people. At the end of these festivities Jerome and his wife left France to take possession of the new kingdom of Westphalia, which was formed out of the territories of the Grand Duke of Hesse, and given to Jerome for his weak compliance with the measures of Napoleon. To the honour of Pope Pius VII. it should be stated that he firmly resisted Napoleon’s attempts to get him to declare null and void the marriage of Jerome Bonaparte and Miss Patterson. The marriage was annulled by Napoleon’s Council of State, but the Pope always refused to sanction the divorce, and in the eyes of the Catholic Church, of which Napoleon proudly called himself the eldest son, the only legitimate descendants of Jerome Bonaparte, are the Baltimore Bonapartes.
Upon several occasions, the Baltimore Bonapartes endeavoured to have their legitimacy established by the French courts. Through the powerful influence of King Jerome and his son, Prince Napoleon, these attempts always failed. Jerome died at the close of 1859. Early in 1861, Madame Patterson-Bonaparte and her son, Jerome Napoleon, made a final appeal to the Cour Impériale de Paris. M. Berryer, the eminent French Advocate, argued their case with distinguished ability. He cited an array of interesting and irresistible facts, proving beyond question the legality of the marriage of Jerome Bonaparte and Elizabeth Patterson. A copy of the marriage contract was produced, signed by the contracting parties, and William Patterson, the father of the bride, and witnessed by Bishop Carroll, M. Sotin, the Vice-Consul of France, at Baltimore, and Alexander Le Camus, afterward le Comte de Furstentein, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Westphalia, during the reign of Jerome in that kingdom. The certificate of the marriage, duly authenticated by the late Very Reverend Henry B. Coskery, Rector of the Baltimore Cathedral, was also produced at the trial.
Numerous letters were read from ex-King Jerome to Jerome Bonaparte of Baltimore, in which the latter was addressed respectively, "Mon cher enfant" and "Mon cher fils." Other members of the Bonaparte family wrote him most affectionate letters, acknowledging the existing relationship. But in spite of the eloquence of Berryer and justice of the cause, the appeal was denied.
Madame Bonaparte has always enjoyed society, which her wit, beauty, and brilliant conversation have fitted her to adorn. When she returned to Baltimore after her romantic visit to Europe a new interest was thrown around the former belle and beauty. A glamour of romance, and poetry, and suffering, was about her. Those who had envied her as the bride of Jerome Bonaparte could well afford to sympathise with her as the deserted young wife. Her brave and determined spirit sustained her in the midst of trials which would have crushed an ordinary woman. When Jerome, whom she had once adored as the embodiment of chivalrous gallantry, abandoned her, whom he had sworn before God and man to love, honour, and cherish until death, her love and admiration changed to absolute contempt.
After the downfall of Napoleon, Madame Bonaparte visited Europe, and remained there seven years. Her fascinating manners, extraordinary beauty, and romantic history, made her admired and celebrated all over the Continent. She spent several years in Florence, and was the ornament of the Court of Tuscany, which was at that time one of the most brilliant in Europe. In these splendid scenes, Madame Bonaparte was always the gayest of the gay. She went to a ball every night. Her regular habit was to spend the early part of the evening in music and reading. At nine, her maid came to dress her for the ball. Precisely at ten, she drove to the soirée, and invariably left at midnight. In society, her sarcastic wit was as much feared as her beauty was admired.
It was while residing at Florence, in 1822, that Madame Bonaparte saw Jerome for the first and last time after their separation at Lisbon, in 1805. They met in the gallery of the Pitti Palace. On seeing her, Jerome started, and whispered to the Princess of Wűrtemberg, his second wife; “That is my former wife.” He immediately quitted the gallery, and the next morning left Florence. No words passed between them.
Madame Bonaparte spent the winter of 1823 in Vienna. Here, her social success was almost as brilliant as at Florence.
Young Jerome Bonaparte of Baltimore accompanied his mother to Europe, and was placed at school in Geneva. After remaining there several years, he joined his mother in Italy in 1821, where most of the Bonaparte family were then residing. He was received with affectionate kindness by his grandmother, the venerable Madame Mère, his uncles Lucien and Louis, his aunt Julia, wife of Joseph Bonaparte, and aunt Pauline, Princess Borghese, and all his numerous cousins. So delighted were they all with the bright and handsome young Baltimore Bonaparte, that they were anxious to make a match between him and his young cousin, Charlotte, daughter of Joseph. In the event of the marriage taking place, the Princess Borghese promised to leave the young couple three hundred thousand francs. Nothing came of this project. The two cousins continued devotedly attached to each other and frequently
corresponded. Young Jerome visited her beautiful home at Point Breeze, New Jersey, where her father lived from 1816 to 1839. In the spring of 1823, Jerome returned to America, and in the next autumn, entered Harvard University, where he remained three years. In 1826, he again visited Italy, and renewed his intimate personal relations with his family there. His half-brother, Prince Jerome, and half-sister, Princess Mathilde, became tenderly attached to him. It was during this visit to Europe that Jerome's acquaintance with Louis Napoleon began; this soon ripened into a most cordial intimacy.
Not long after his return to America (namely, in November, 1829), Jerome, then about twenty-four years old, was married to Miss Susan May Williams, a native of Baltimore, but descended of a prominent family of Massachusetts. Letters of congratulation came from the different members of the Bonaparte family, including Madame Mère, Joseph, Louis, Jerome, and his cousin Charlotte. On the 5th of November, 1830, a son was born to Mr. Bonaparte, and named Jerome Napoleon. After spending one year at Harvard, young Jerome entered West Point, July 1st, 1848, where he distinguished himself, both in the class-room and in all martial exercises, graduating high in his class in1852. Perhaps a more dashing, more noble-looking young officer than Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte never left West Point; tall, graceful, handsome, with dark eyes, and regular features, he was every inch a soldier.
When Louis Napoleon came to America in 1837, Mr. Jerome Bonaparte invited him to visit him at his country seat near Baltimore. On the 1st of January, 1853, Jerome addressed a letter to Napoleon III, congratulating him upon the occasion of his ascending the Imperial throne of France, to which the Emperor responded, expressing the great pleasure which the letter of his cousin had afforded him, and concluding with an invitation to visit France.
Mr. Bonaparte and his son visited Paris in June, 1854, and immediately upon their arrival were invited to dine at Saint Cloud by the Emperor. When they entered the Palace, Mr. Bonaparte received from the hands of the Emperor a paper containing the deliberate opinion of the Minister of Justice, the President of the Senate, and the President of the Council of State, upon the subject of the marriage of Prince Jerome with Miss Elizabeth Patterson to the effect that Jerome Bonaparte ought to be considered a legitimate child of France. Prince Jerome opposed the recognition of his son’s legitimacy, said he would not consent to his remaining in France, and so wrote to the Emperor. Napoleon III replied that the laws of France recognised the son of Miss Patterson as legitimate, and on the 30th of August, 1854, a decree was inserted in the "Bulletin des Lois," declaring that M. Jérôme Bonaparte est réintégré dans la qualité de Français.
Another decree, dated September 5th, 1854, conferred upon young Jerome Bonaparte, of Baltimore, the rank of Lieutenant in the French army. He had previously resigned his commission in the United States army. The young officer proceeded at once to the Crimea, where he distinguished himself upon several occasions. At the end of the war his commanding officer wrote a letter of congratulation to his father, saying that he ought to be proud of such a son. For his gallant conduct in the Crimea, Lieutenant Bonaparte received a Victoria Medal from the Queen of England, the Order of the Medjidie from the Sultan of Turkey, and the Cross of the Legion of Honour from his Imperial cousin, Napoleon III. For his heroic services in the Italian campaign of 1859, Victor Emmanuel decorated him with the Order of Military Valour.
In the summer of 1870 Jerome Bonaparte died in Baltimore, leaving his large fortune to his wife and two sons.
Madame Bonaparte is still living in Baltimore, at the age of ninety years. She says she has no intention of dying until she is a hundred. She has been to Europe sixteen times, and contemplates another trip this summer. This old lady has more vivacity and certainly more intelligence than many of the leading women of fashion of the present day. She expresses her opinion upon all subjects with great freedom, and sometimes with bitterness. She has little or no confidence in men; and a very poor opinion of women: the young ladies of the present day, she says, all have homo mania. All sentiment she thinks a weakness. She professes that her ambition has always been - not the throne, but near the throne. Mr. Patterson, her father, died in 1836, at an advanced age, in possession a large fortune. In his will, which is one of the most remarkable documents that has ever been deposited in Orphans’ Court of Baltimore, he says: "The conduct of my daughter, Betsey, has, through life, been so disobedient that in no instance has she ever consulted my opinion or feelings; indeed, she has caused me more anxiety and trouble than all my other children put together; her folly and misconduct have occasioned me a train of experience that, first to last, has cost me much money." - in this, he means the marriage of his daughter to Jerome Bonaparte. The old gentleman left her, out of his great wealth, only three or four small houses and the wines in his cellar - worth in all about ten thousand dollars.
Madame Bonaparte is very rich: she has made her money by successful speculations and by her life-long habit of saving. For years she has lived at a boarding house in Baltimore, seeing very little company. Her costume is ancient, and there is nothing about her appearance that suggests the marvellous beauty that led captive the heart of Jerome Bonaparte. Her eyes alone retain some of the brightness of former days.