Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte

Elizabeth " Betsy " Patterson ( born February 6, 1785 Baltimore, † April 4, 1879 in Baltimore ) was the first wife of Jérôme Bonaparte ( 1784-1860 ), Napoleon's youngest brother.

Life

Patterson was the daughter of Irish immigrant William Patterson, who had participated in the American Revolutionary War and as a merchant in Baltimore to become the second richest man in Maryland - had risen - by Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

During his stay in the U.S. Jérôme Bonaparte learned in Baltimore Elizabeth know and love. After only two months, on 24 December 1803 the couple were married in the Cathedral of Baltimore by the local Archbishop John Carroll. Napoleon Bonaparte as head of the house, the marriage never acknowledged, however. As Jérôme in 1805 returned to France, his pregnant wife Elizabeth to enter France was denied. She brought her son, Jérôme Napoléon in London to the world. Napoleon annulled the marriage and married his brother in 1807 with the Princess Catherine of Württemberg, to strengthen the bonds between Württemberg and France.

Elizabeth returned with her son Jérôme Napoléon back to Baltimore. She was paid a high annual compensation.

Elizabeth's sister Mary Caroll later married the brother of Arthur Wellesley, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

On April 4, 1879 Elizabeth died in Baltimore at the age of 94 years.

Elizabeth's son Jérôme Napoléon founded the American line of the Bonaparte family.