Created:  19 December 2011

HMS "Bellerophon", with Napoleon Buonaparte a prisoner aboard, anchored inside the Breakwater on Wednesday July 26th 1815.  [1]

'Multitudes visited the Citadel and Hoe, endeavouring to obtain a glimpse of him.  In his behaviour, it appears, he still affects the Emperor, considering himself, apparently, of as much importance as when, in Russia, he ordered a chateau, a village, or a town, to be set on fire, that he might warm his fingers', reported the Sherborne Mercury.  [1]

Mr Henry Francis Whitfeld took up the story in his "Plymouth and Devonport in Times of War and Peace"  [2]:

'In Torbay distinguished residents offered him presents of fruit; but, as soon as the Bellerophon anchored in Plymouth, the captive was deprived of unusual deferences.  'The fascinating monster', was on view for many days, but it was impossible for even distinguished visitors to approach the prison ship, as the Bellerophon was now designated, and no intercourse was sanctioned with the multitude afloat.  Blank charges of musketry were fired to intimidate spectators from infringing the defined limits, and their greetings whenever Napoleon could be seen so exasperated the authorities that they rammed many shore boats for pulling within one hundred yards of the ship'.

'Belair - near Plymouth - was at this time the seat of Captain Thomas Elphinstone; and, with a view of distracting attention, a Council of War was held in its dining room, at which Lord Keith and Sir Thomas Duckworth were present.  Mr Alexander Elphinstone, nephew of the captain, kept guard over the door with a drawn sword, now in the possession of Major Elphinstone Holloway, and the Order of State was then divulged that St Helena was to be the destination of the Emperor.  The secret was preserved until the last day in July, when Lord Keith and Sir Henry Bunbury boarded the Bellerophon, and informed Napoleon of the place of his banishment'.

Not surprisingly Buonaparte argued with this decision and claimed that Saint Helena amounted to a sentence of death.  'Keith declined to discuss the matter, for the local sympathy had exasperated Ministers, and Plymouth was regarded as a hotbed of treason'.  [2]

'During this stay his linen was sent into Plymouth to be washed, and the fact that some of it was marked with an "N" and an imperial crown, and the rest with an "L" and the royal crown, led to the inference that the latter had been 'stolen from Louis'.  This moral reflection did not disturb the residents of the town; for, with the contrivance of a perfidious laundress, they tried on the shirts in order that they might boast they had worn them!'.

Because of the growing support on land for Napoleon to be brought ashore and possibly even pardoned, Lord Keith and Sir Henry Bunbury ordered the Bellerophon to cruise outside the Breakwater.  The ship was still pursued by boat loads of spectators, hoping for a glimpse of the man, but he withdrew to his cabin.  One waterman's boat was cut down by a gunboat and sank, drowning some of the passengers.  [2]

The ship sailed from Plymouth Sound at Midday on August 4th 1815.  [3]

In the graveyard of the Parish Church of Stoke Damerel is the memorial stone of one Mr John Boynes which reads:  'To the Memory of John Boynes late Stone Mason of His Majesty's Dock Yard who was unfortunately Drowned between the Island and Point Returning from seeing Bonaparte in the Sound, [date indecipherable] July 1815, Aged 35 Years.'

The gravestone of Mr John Boynes
in Stoke Damerel Churchyard.
©  Mr George Nicolle.
Buy a Copy.

---

Sources:

[1]  Sherborne Mercury, July 31st 1815.

[2]  Whitfeld, Henry Francis, "Plymouth and Devonport in Times of War and Peace", E Chapple, Plymouth, and Hiorns & Miller, Devonport, 1900.

[3]  Sherborne Mercury, August 7th, 1815.