JOSEPH BONAPARTE, eldest brother of Napoleon, was born at Corte, in Corsica, in 1768. On the death of his father he exerted himself to support the younger members of the family, and in 1793 re moved with them to Marseilles, where he prepared for the bar. In 1797 he was elected a member of the Council of Five Hundred, and, in the same year, was sent as Ambassador from the republic to Rome. In 1800, after he had proved his ability in several offices of State, he was chosen by the First Consul as Pleni potentiary to conclude a treaty of friend ship with the United States of America. He signed the Treaty of Peace at Lune \Tulle, 1801, and that of Amiens, 1802; and, with Cretet and Bernier. conducted the negotiations relative to the concor dat. After the coronation of Napoleon new honors fell to the share of Joseph Bonaparte, who was made commander in-chief of the army of Naples; in 1805, ruler of the Two Sieilies: and in 1806, King of Naples. Though, during his reign, many beneficial changes of govern ment were effected, these reforms were not managed judiciously; and his hu mane feelings brought him into frequent collision with his imperious brother. He was far too fond of the fine arts to be a vigorous ruler in stormy times. In 1808
Joseph Bonaparte was summarily trans ferred by his brother to the throne of Spain, and Murat took his place as King of Naples. Joseph was unprepared to cope with the Spanish insurgents, and after the defeat of the French at Vit toria in 1813, he returned to his estate at Morfontaine, in France..
After the battle of Waterloo he at, companied Napoleon to Rochefort, whence they intended to sail separately for North America. In his last inter view with Napoleon, Joseph generously offered to give up the vessel hired for his own escape, but meanwhile Napoleon had determined to surrender himself into the hands of the English. Joseph be came an American citizen, and lived for some years at Bordentown, N. J., where he employed himself in agriculture. In 1832 he returned to Europe, and he died at Florence in 1844. His wife, JULIA MARM CLARY, born in 1777, was the daughter of a wealthy citizen of Mar seilles, and the sister-in-law of Berna dotte, King of Sweden. She died in Florence in 1845. By her marriage with Joseph Bonaparte she had two daugh ters.