PATTERSON ( BONAPARTE) , ELIZABETH (]7s5-1579). An American woman, famous as the wife of Jerome Bonaparte. She was born in Baal )110te. Aid_ and was the daughter of William Pat terson. one of the wealthiest men in the United states. When Jerome Bonaparte visited Baltimore in 1803 lie was fascinated by Miss l'att(Tson and the too were married by Bishop Carroll, Decem ber 24. 1803. In April. 1804. Napoleon. through Pichon. Consul-General of France. in New York, declared the marriage illegal, and ordered Jerome to return to France and to leave the 'voting person' behind. The other members of his family. however. accepted the situation and promised to receive her. In 1805 Jerome and his wife sailed for Europe. The latter, not lining al lowed to la nd either at Lisbon or Amsterdam, went to England. and her son. Jerome Napoleon. was luau at Camberwell, .11ily 7. 18,05. Mean
while Napoleon had requested unsuccessfully the annulment of the marriage from Pope Pius VII., but the Council of State granted the divorce. In November .Madame Bonaparte returned to the united States, and lived With her father. After the battle of Waterloo she went to Europe. where she Was well received in the most exclusive circles, and was much admired for her beauty and w it. In 1815, by special net of the Legislature of Alaryland, she secured a divorce. From 1816 to 1819 she was in Baltimore, and subsequently spent much of 11(q- time in Europe. Her last years were spent in Baltimore in the management of her estate. which she increased to more than a million and a half. Consult Didier, Life and Leib nv of Madeno; Bonaparte ( New York, 1879).