BONAPARTES OF BALTIMORE, the branch of the family residing in Baltimore, Md., and derived from the marriage of Jerome Bona parte, brother of the Emperor Napoleon I, with Elizabeth Patterson, daughter of William Pat terson, an eminent! merchant in the city of Baltimore. Flizabeth was born 6 Feb. 1785, and was scarce 18 years of age when Jerome Bona parte in 'commarid 'of a French frigate landed in New York in 1803. She, at that time, 'way distinguished by uncommon personal beauty, and is said, moreover, to have strikingly re sembled the Bonaparte family. The fame of Napoleon ensured for his brother Jerome a dis tinguished reception in America, and whereyer he went he was most hospitably entertained. On visiting Baltimore he saw Miss Patterson, and soon became much attached to her, a par tiality which she readily returned, and being ambitious in her views of life, she at once ac cepted his offer of marriage, and was united to him 24 Dec. 1803. The marriage ceremony was performed by the bishop of Baltimore, John Carroll, brother of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the signer of the Declaration of Independence, and in accordance with the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage contract, considered of importance, was drawn up by Alexander J. Dallas, subsequently Secre tary of the Treasury, and witnessed by several official personages, including the mayor of Bal timore. Jerome Bonaparte remained in America for a full year, visiting, with his wife, various parts of the country. They embarked for Europe in the spring of 1805, in the American ship Erin, and arrived safely at Lisbon. The news of the marriage proved very distasteful to the dictator of France, partly because Jerome had dared to marry without his consent., and partly on account of his own wish to unite all his brothers to European princesses. Before the newly wedded pair could reach Europe an order went forth to every port under French authority forbidding them to land. The hopes of the fair American were now forever blighted, as Napoleon sternly refused to recognize her marriage. Jerome left her at Lisbon and hastened to Paris, hoping by a personal inter view to soften the Emperor, directing the ves sel to proceed to Amsterdam, as the state of his wife's health would not admit of her under going a long land journey, even if a passport could be obtained for her, which. was 'very doubtful. On the Erin's arrival at Texel roads, Madame Bonaparte found an order had been awaiting her coming, which prohibited her from landing. She was obliged to sail at once for Englanoi, where she established her abode, and at Camberwell, near London, gave birth to a son. She never saw her husband again, ex cept in a casual meeting many years after their separation. Jerome, who was originally much attached to his wife, in vain petitioned the Emperor to recognize her, and was finally obliged to marry the Princess of Wiirtemberg. After the downfall of Napoleon, Madame Pat terson (as she was styled for a long period) visited Europe, and is said to have encountered Jerome Bonaparte with his wife in the gallery of the Pitti Palace in Florence. On meeting,
Jerome started aside, and was overheard to say to the Princess: lady is my former wife He instantly left the gallery, and next morning departed from Florence. Napoleon I never succeeded in inducing Pope Pius VII to declare Jerome's first marriage null and void, Madame Bonaparte, after the birth of her son, generally resided in Baltimore, in the possession of abundant wealth. Notwithstanding her treat ment by Napoleon, she always expressed the i highest admiration for hm, and prophesied that her grandson would eventually succeed him as Emperor of the French. JEROME NAPOLEON, son of the preceding: b. Camberwell, England, 7 July 1805; d. Baltimore, 17 June 1870. His mother returned to the United States during his boyhood, and he was raised in Baltimore. He entered Harvard College, and graduated from that institution in 1826. He studied for the bar, but never practised law. He was mar ried to Miss Susan Mary Williams, daughter of Benjamin Williams, originally of Roxbury, Mass. Miss Williams was a lady of very large fortune, which, united with Bonaparte's Own property, made him one of the wealthiest citi zens of Baltimore. After his marriage he devoted his time to the management of a large estate, and partly to agricultural pursuits. For many years, Bonaparte received a handsome allowance from his father, with whom he was on terms of intimacy in his several visits to Europe. During the reign of Louis Philippe, Bonaparte was permitted to sojourn in Paris, but for a short period only, and under his mother's name of Patterson. Although travel ing incognito, he attracted much attention from his singular likeness to the great Emperor. He was thought to resemble him more than any of the monarch's own brothers did. He was on good terms with Napoleon III, and visited the French court with his son, by the invitation of the Emperor. Bonaparte tested his legal standing in the French courts by lodging a claim to share with the offspring of the second mar riage in the property of his father; but judg ment was given against him. jrzaohie NAPOLEON, grandson of Jerome Bonaparte: b. Baltimore, 5 Nov. 1832; d. Pride's Crossing, Mass., 4 Sept. 1893. He was educated at Harvard Col lege and West Point Military Academy, but resigned his commission in the United States army to enter the French service in 1854. He served with distinction in the Crimean War and in the Italian campaign. CHARLES JOSEPH, grandson of Jerome Bonaparte: b. Baltimore, 9 June 1851. He was graduated from Harvard University in 1871 and the Harvard Law School in 1874. In 1904 he was appointed a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners. In 1905 he was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Roosevelt and in 1906 became Attor ney-General, remaining in this position until 5 March 1909. He is trustee of the Catholic University since 1904, and is a member of the council of the National Civil Service Reform League.