Jerome Bonaparte papers
Abstract
This collection contains correspondence (1801-1852) to and from Jerome Bonaparte, exclusive of any correspondence from Elizabeth, Charles J. and the Jerome Napoleon Bonapartes, and William Patterson, which are contained in their own collections. Letters and official papers concerning Jerome's military career (1801-1804) are form the bulk of the collection.
Dates
- 1801 - 1852
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.
Biographical / Historical
Jerome Bonaparte (1784-1860) was the younger brother of the French Emperor Napoleon I. His career in the French navy brought him to the United States in 1803, where he met and married Elizabeth Patterson, the daughter of Baltimore merchant William Patterson. The marriage, opposed by Napoleon and by William Patterson, was destined to be short lived, being anulled by Napoleon's decree in 1806, while Jerome remained in Europe, remarried and became the King of Westphalia according to his brother's wishes. Jerome had one son with Elizabeth Patterson, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte (1805-1870), nicknamed "Bo", who lived with his mother's family in Baltimore.
Extent
0.42 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift.
Scope and Contents
During this period are orders and letters from Admiral Ganteaume (the Military Chief of the Navy at the Port of Rochefort); Jean-Elie Terrasson; Louis-Thomas La Touche-Trevilie (Rear-Admiral, Commander of the Naval Forces of the Channel); Admiral Villaret-Joyeause (Captain General of Martinique and Saint Lucie); Ernouf (Captain General of Guadeloupe); General Silvestre Villeneuve; G. Brouard; Deuis (Minister of Marine & the Colonies); General Curreau, and L. A. Pichon (the French Consul General in Washington).
Topics covered by this naval correspondence include orders to embark, appointment as ensign for his services at St. Dominique (Santo Domingo), appointment as commander of the brig. of the Republic, L'Epervier (the Hawk), instructions for ship activities and conduct, repeated instructions to return to France as soon as possible, etc. Areas of activity include the Tobago, Martinique, Barbados, St. Dominque, Cayenne, Colonies of Bolandoises, Danoises, St. Croix, etc. and later the U. S. Also includes some papers, apparently unrelated to Jerome Bonaparte, concerning military hospitals in Guadaloupe, slave troubles in St. Domingo, etc. Also includes personal correspondence with his wife Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte and son Jerome Bonaparte, & some members of the Bonaparte (Personal correspondence indexed separately in old card catalogue).
Some copies, handwritten in French, of Jerome's letters. Some English copies of his letters, with notations, apparently by Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte. Also some official copies of military orders, and a 2 page typed description (author unknown) of the substance of the official documents in the possession of Charles J. Bonaparte bearing on the movements of Jerome Bonaparte from 1801-05.
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Jerome Bonaparte papers
- Status
- Minimally Processed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021-09-24: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Mallory Herberger.
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org