We even have a huge display of Joseph Bonaparte himself," Kiovsky said. "We have furniture, paintings, documents on display, framed letters, and even books that was owned by Joseph Bonaparte at one time or another. There was a famous painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps on a big white horse that was in his Point Breeze home."Īt the Bordentown Friends Meetinghouse exhibit, the interior is staged to resemble Bonaparte's South Jersey estate. "There is at least two or three paintings that were in his home that we do have. "He also had the largest private art collection in the United States and the largest private rental library in the United States," Kiovsky said. The estate was the second most beautiful next to the White House they said and he also had the first picturesque landscaping theme in the United States."īonaparte was also known for his collection of books, larger than the Library of Congress, and art, some of which can be found at the Bordentown Historical Society's exhibit. "So he had 800 acres, but his state was fabulous. "It was a 200-acre, formal estate right in Bordentown and then there was about 12 farms across the street which border right near the Delaware," Kiovsky said. Built in 1816, it was the largest residence in the United States at the time. Traveling up the Delaware River, Bonaparte eventually settled on the bluffs in Bordentown where he lived a wealthy lifestyle in the Point Breeze estate. And that's exactly what he did," Kiovsky said. But he's used to palaces so he asked him can you find out where I can find some land and he tells him to get on your ship and go up to Delaware and see what you can find. "He offered Joseph a home in Philadelphia. More: Camden's Rosa Ramirez remembered as a 'social justice warrior'Īlso: This South Jersey abolitionist, Civil War soldier is finally getting national recognition That's where he met Stephen Girard, banker and philanthropist of French origin and founder of Philadelphia's Girard College. However, Bonaparte's ability to go unnoticed didn't last long forcing him to flee to Philadelphia where there was a French enclave. So Joseph knew what was next and he escaped, boarded one of the ship and came to New York incognito, in disguise," Kiovsky said. So they figured, well, we'll just get rid of them until they die. They didn't want to execute the Bonapartes because they were afraid if they did that, it would be like martyr syndrome. "Joseph knew that the jig was up, like him and other family members might meet the same fate with exiles. By the appointment of his brother, he ruled as the King of Naples from 1806 to 1808 and King of Spain from 1808 to 1813.Īfter learning of the capture of his brother by British forces following his final defeat in 1815 during the Napoleonic Wars, The Battle of the Waterloo, Bonaparte knew was facing a grim fate. They took a look at our exhibits and were totally fascinated with the whole thing," Kiovsky said.īonaparte was the eldest brother of French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte. His entourage was, there just a few of them. and after two years of asking him, he was able to come. "He actually knew the name and the contact for the French ambassador to the U.S. Through his studies, Tucci connected with Philippe Étienne, the ambassador of France to the United States who visited the exhibit earlier this month. Peter Tucci, a board member for the BHS, has been studying Bonaparte for more than 20 years. "In the 1820s, he was there full time, then in the 1830s he was here off and on until 1839 when he finally left." "The primary question when people see the exhibit is that they don't know anything about Joseph Bonaparte or rather than even that he was even Bordentown resident," Kiovsky said. Despite Bordentown's notoriety for its rich history, Doug Kiovsky, vice president of the BHS, says that Bonaparte's ties to the small town is less known. Its newest exhibition consists of artifacts collected from King Joseph Bonaparte's self-imposed exile in South Jersey. BORDENTOWN - History buffs looking for some indoor fun as the weather gets colder should check out this exhibit that gets an international nod of approval.Įach year, the Bordentown Historical Society hosts several exhibits at The Bordentown Friends Meetinghouse, located in the historic district, to educate visitors and residents on the town's history.
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