Jerome Bonaparte

Dies at His Home Near Beverly, Massachusetts.

Cancer Ends the Interesting Career of the Great Napoleon's Grandnephew—A Brief sketch of His Life.

Beverly, Mass., September 4.—Colonel Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte died at his summer home here, Pride's Crossing, at 9:30 o'clock last night. He had not been considered dangerously ill and only last week plans were made to remove him today, but within the last two or three days his disease, which is reported to have been cancer of the stomach, assumed a grave form.

Sketch of His Career.

Colonel Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte was the eldest grandson of Jerome Bonaparte, king of Westphalia, and a grandnephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. Although born in America, and for most of his life a resident of Baltimore,

he enjoyed at one time the distinction of being the hope of the Bonapartist party in France and upon the downfall of Napoleon III, was pushed forward for the regency. His followers at that time hoped he would succeed to the throne of France.

The story of Colonel Bonaparte is a romance, and it began two generations before his birth.

His grandfather was Jerome Bonaparte, a younger brother of the great Napoleon. The first consul of France conceived the idea of making this younger brother one the the rulers of the earth, and with that end in view, early in life, he gave him an important command in the navy, the young man rapidly advanced, and in 1803, Captain Bonaparte, brought his ship to America.

And now begins the story of those events which made the life of the man just deceased a romance.

Captain Bonaparte, at a ball given by Samuel Chase, in Baltimore, met Elizabeth Patterson, daughter of William Patterson a ship owner and the second wealthiest man in the state of Maryland. It was a case of love at first sight on both sides.

Opposed the Match.

William Patterson opposed the match, perceiving that it would be displeasing to the ruler of France. But the lovers persisted, and eventually they were married in great state in Baltimore by Archbishop Carroll. Captain Bonaparte had not consulted his brother.

But such a match could only result in trouble. When Napoleon heard of it he was very angry and positively refused to recognize his brother's American wife. He sent word to America that he would never permit her to set foot, on French soil. He doubtless thought his dictum would settle the matter forever.

The great Napoleon, however, was mistaken. He did not know of what stern stuff his American sister-in-law was made. Mme. Napoleon laughed at the royal decree and declared she would go to France with her husband. Jerome agreed, and the two set sail for France.

But the ruler of France was not to be thwarted. As the ship approached the shores of France it was met by two men-of-war. Captain Bonaparte was taken off but his American wife was driven away and forced to take refuge in England.

Once in France, Captain Bonaparte quickly yielded to his brother. Napoleon promised him to care for his wife, granting her an income of 60,000 francs a year. He coupled this with the condition that she should not retain the name of Bonaparte — a condition, however, which the plucky wife refused to accede to. Napoleon endeavored to have the marriage declared void by the pope, but Pius VII refused to grant the request. Napoleon, however, was not to be balked, and caused a royal decree of divorce to be passed.

Took Another Wife.

The subsequent career of her husband may be summed up in a few words. In 1807 he was made king of Westphalia and was married to the Princess Catherine of Wurtemberg. In 1813, on the fall of the Bonapartes, he was deposed and exiled.

Meantime Mme. Bonaparte, proudly disdaining the offers of the royal family, remained in England until after the birth of her son, and then returned to America. This son was the late Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte and the father of Colonel Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, who has just died. He had a second son, Charles Joseph Bonaparte, who has attained some prominence at the Baltimore bar.

Turned to Her Grandson.

Balked in her ambition for her only son, Mme. Bonaparte turned to her eldest grandson. He was named for his father, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte. He inherited much of his grandmother's character, and early in life set out upon a career which pleased her greatly and revived her hopes that her issue might yet attain the rights which she conceived belonged to her and hers.

He was educated with the purpose of being a soldier. To this his father consented, and as soon as he could pass the examination he was entered at the United States military academy at West Point. He gave himself to the work there with all his will and was graduated well up in his class in 1852. He was a lieutenant in the United States army at twenty-two years of age.

Saw Service at Once.

Of course he went into service. That was part of his grandmother's plans and his ambitions were in the same line. He was detailed to the Texas frontier, and there he served two years in garrison duty.

As soon as he was free to do so Lieutenant Bonaparte resigned from the service and at once sailed for France. His grandmother's influence had paved the way, and he found a second lieutenancy awaiting him in the imperial French army. He was assigned to the Seventh Dragoons and was at once sent on foreign duty. It was his grandmother's purpose that he should win the hearts of Frenchmen by deeds of arms.

Promotions and Decorations.

As a result of his brilliant military deeds, Bonaparte was transferred to the Chasseurs d'Afrique as a lieutenant, and was soon made captain. In the Algerian campaign in 1857 he served in several actions against the Kables and in the Italian campaign against Austria he won distinction for braverv in the battles of Montebello and Solferino. For this he received French and Italian decorations. In 1857 he was promoted to the rank of chef d'escadron and two years later was transferred to the empress' Dragoon Guards.

Upon the downfall of Napoleon III. Mme. Bonaparte played her trump cards. There was a large party behind her who hoped to see her brilliant grandson made regent and finally succeed to the throne. When all her plans went to pieces she returned to America broken hearted and died in 1879.

Colonel Bonaparte served in the guard of the empress of France in 1867 to 1872. On the fall of the empire he with difficulty escaped with his life from the commune in Paris. At the close of the war in 1871 he returned to this country, and the same year he married in Newport. R. I., Mrs. Caroline Leroy Edgar, formerly Miss Appleton, a granddaughter of Daniel Webster.

Colonel Bonaparte went to Paris in 1873 and returned in 1879, a few days before the death of his grandmother. He lived here since a quiet life, though much sought in society. He leaves one daughter, Miss Loisette Bonaparte.