Betsy Balcombe
Encyclopedia
Lucia Elizabeth ″Betsy″ Balcombe Abell (1802 − 29 June 1871) was a friend of Napoleon I
during his exile at Saint Helena
. Her and her family's closeness to Napoleon attracted the suspicion of Governor Hudson Lowe
.
. Balcombe and her sister Jane, two years her senior, were educated in England and there taught the French language. In 1814, the sisters returned to Saint Helena and resided with their parents and two younger brothers in a cottage called The Briars.
In October 1815 the former Emperor Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena by the British government. Because Napoleon's residence, Longwood House
, had not yet been rehabilitated, he was housed in a pavilion near 'The Briars' for the next two months. Although Balcombe was fearful of Bonaparte the first time they met, over time she and the emperor became best friends. The French officers and servants were jealous of the young English girl, who addressed Napoleon as ″Boney″, without being reprimanded by him.
After Napoleon removed to Longwood House, Balcombe would often visit him. The European press recognised the relationship between the 47-year-old Napoleon and the teenage girl and wrote about a love story. In March 1818, the Balcombes left St. Helena and went back to England. Saint Helena governor Hudson Lowe disapproved of the friendship between the Balcombes and Napoleon, suspecting them of smuggling secret messages out of Longwood House.
In May 1821, Betsy Balcombe married Edward Abell and had a daughter. The marriage soon failed. Balcombe earned money by teaching music. In the 1830s she went to her family in New South Wales
, Australia. Years later she returned to London. For all the time of her life she had remained in contact with the Bonaparte family. In 1830, Joseph Bonaparte
visited Balcombe in London. Emperor Napoleon III was to reward Betsy Balcombe with 500 hectares of land with vineyards in Algeria
in memory of her comfort to his uncle. In 1871, Balcombe died in London, aged 69.
In 1960, the Australian writer Dame Mabel Brookes
(1890–1975), Betsy Balcombe's grandniece, bought "The Briars" and gifted it to the French nation.
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
during his exile at Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
. Her and her family's closeness to Napoleon attracted the suspicion of Governor Hudson Lowe
Hudson Lowe
Sir Hudson Lowe KCB, GCMG was an Anglo-Irish soldier and colonial administrator who is best known for his time as Governor of St Helena where he was the "gaoler" of Napoleon Bonaparte.-Early life and career:...
.
Biography
Lucia Elizabeth Balcombe was born in 1802 as the second child of William and Jane Balcombe, née Cranston. Her father was Superintendent of Public Sales for the East India CompanyEast India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. Balcombe and her sister Jane, two years her senior, were educated in England and there taught the French language. In 1814, the sisters returned to Saint Helena and resided with their parents and two younger brothers in a cottage called The Briars.
In October 1815 the former Emperor Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena by the British government. Because Napoleon's residence, Longwood House
Longwood House
Longwood House was the residence of Napoleon I during his exile on the island of Saint Helena, from 10 December 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821. It is situated on a windswept plain some from Jamestown. Formerly the summer residence of the Lieutenant Governor, it was converted for the use of...
, had not yet been rehabilitated, he was housed in a pavilion near 'The Briars' for the next two months. Although Balcombe was fearful of Bonaparte the first time they met, over time she and the emperor became best friends. The French officers and servants were jealous of the young English girl, who addressed Napoleon as ″Boney″, without being reprimanded by him.
After Napoleon removed to Longwood House, Balcombe would often visit him. The European press recognised the relationship between the 47-year-old Napoleon and the teenage girl and wrote about a love story. In March 1818, the Balcombes left St. Helena and went back to England. Saint Helena governor Hudson Lowe disapproved of the friendship between the Balcombes and Napoleon, suspecting them of smuggling secret messages out of Longwood House.
In May 1821, Betsy Balcombe married Edward Abell and had a daughter. The marriage soon failed. Balcombe earned money by teaching music. In the 1830s she went to her family in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. Years later she returned to London. For all the time of her life she had remained in contact with the Bonaparte family. In 1830, Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
visited Balcombe in London. Emperor Napoleon III was to reward Betsy Balcombe with 500 hectares of land with vineyards in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
in memory of her comfort to his uncle. In 1871, Balcombe died in London, aged 69.
In 1960, the Australian writer Dame Mabel Brookes
Mabel Brookes
Dame Mabel Brookes, DBE was an Australian community worker, activist, socialite, writer, memoirist and humanitarian....
(1890–1975), Betsy Balcombe's grandniece, bought "The Briars" and gifted it to the French nation.