Person    | Male  Born 1808  Died 9/1/1873

Napoleon III of France

Last monarch of France. Son of Louis Bonaparte (Napoleon I's brother) and Hortense de Beauharnais, he was known as Louis Napoleon. He grew up in Switzerland and Germany, but due to involvement in revolutionary activities spent time in exile in the US, Switzerland and London. He was here in 1836, 1838-40 and 1848. The Second Empire was established in November 1852 and Louis Napoleon became Emperor Napoleon III. His reign was ended in 1870 by disaster in the Franco-Prussian War. So what did he do? Off to exile in England, where he eventually died, in Chislehurst. He died at his home at Camden Place, an 18th century mansion which would in 1894 become Chislehurst Golf Club.

During one of his visits to London (1838-40 at 1 Carlton Gardens) he was so impressed with the Mall, the John Nash terraces at Regent's Park, Hyde Park and our sewers that he and his planner, Hausmann, used them as models, with others, for their work in Paris.

In Manet's painting "The execution of Maximilian" the soldier at the back preparing to deliver the coup de grace is supposedly a portrait of this Napoleon, thus pointedly blaming the Emperor for the death.

Just to complete the picture: in 1815 Napoleon I abdicated in favour of his son (by Marie Louise), who became known as Napoleon II but he never ruled. He was known variously as the king of Rome, prince of Parma, duke of Reichstadt and (our favourite) the "Eaglet". To the best of our knowledge he never came to England.

The death of Napoleon III's son, also Louis-Napoleon, in 1879 ended the Napoleonic dynasty.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Napoleon III of France

Commemorated ati

Napoleon III

Above the name an eagle is depicted.

Read More

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Napoleon III of France

Creations i

Richard Cobden statue

Sicilian marble. W. and T. Wills of 12 Euston Road were the sculptors. Still ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Jose de San Martin

Jose de San Martin

Soldier and statesman. Born in present-day Argentina. An officer in the Spanish army but then a major player in the battle for independence from Spain for Argentina in 1812 and Chile in 1818. He fo...

Person, Nationalism, Politics & Administration, Argentina, Chile, France, Peru

3 memorials
George Padmore

George Padmore

International activist and renowned pan Africanist (favouring the unification of Africa).  Born Malcolm Ivan Meredith Nurse in Trinidad.  Travelled a lot. but settled in London in 1935.  Worked as ...

Person, Nationalism, Politics & Administration, Africa, Caribbean Islands, Ghana

1 memorial
Ali Mohammed Abbas

Ali Mohammed Abbas

Barrister and one of the founders of Pakistan. Ali Mohammed Abbas was born on 1 January 1922 in West Bengal, India (now Pakistan) and according to the Open University website he came to London tow...

Person, Law, Nationalism, Politics & Administration, India, Pakistan

1 memorial
Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata

Leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, the main leader of the peasant revolution in the state of Morelos, and the inspiration of the agrarian movement called Zapatismo. Born Mexico and died ther...

Person, Nationalism, Politics & Administration, Mexico

1 memorial
Lady Jane Francesca Wilde

Lady Jane Francesca Wilde

Born Dublin. Mother of Oscar Wilde. Poet under the pseudonym ‘Speranza’. Supporter of the Irish nationalist movement and advocate of women’s rights. Died 146 (now 87) Oakley Street.

Person, Gender Issues, Nationalism, Poetry, Ireland

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Sir Albert Richardson

Sir Albert Richardson

Architect. Born London. Our picture shows him as 'professor' in 1956.  Apart from post-war restorations his main work in London is Bracken House, the first post-war listed building.

Person, Architecture

3 memorials
Vera Brittain

Vera Brittain

Vera Mary Brittain was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire the daughter of Thomas Arthur Brittain (1864-1935) and Edith Mary Brittain (1868-1948). Her father was a paper manufacturer. The 1...

Person, Literature, Peace

2 memorials
Maurice Lambert

Maurice Lambert

Sculptor. Born Paris. Brother of the musician Constant Lambert. This portrait is by his father. There is photograph of him (older and not so pretty) at the Court Gallery. His other work in London i...

Person, Sculpture, France

1 memorial
Captain Robert Hansler

Captain Robert Hansler

JP for Middlesex. At Rootschat we found a "Captain Robert Jacob Hansler, a magistrate for Middlesex" He was the eldest son of Sir John Jacob Hansler (1788 -1867) and Maria (d.1858), daughter of Mr ...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial