Briars, St Helena
Encyclopedia
Briars is the name of the small pavilion in which Napoleon Bonaparte
stayed for the first few weeks of his captivity on Saint Helena
. The pavilion was in the garden of William Balcombe, an English merchant who became a purveyor to Napoleon. His 14 year old daughter Elizabeth Lucia ("Betsy") Balcombe
was the only family member who spoke French and she became the family translator. Because of his and his family's closeness to Napoleon, Balcombe attracted the suspicion of Governor Hudson Lowe
, and in 1818 he decided to leave the island and return to England. The Briars then was used as the home for the Admiral on duty in the station .
Later, Balcombe was offered a post in Australia. In 1959 the Pavilion was offered to the French Government by a descendant of William Balcombe, Dame Mabel Brookes
, and became the third of the French properties on the island.
The Balcombe family homestead in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, was also named the Briars, and is now run by Mornington Peninsula shire and open to the public as a heritage house. Dame Mabel Brookes collected Napoleonic memorabilia which was also donated to the Mornington Peninsula shire; some is on display at the house.
Napoleon I of France
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...
stayed for the first few weeks of his captivity on 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...
. The pavilion was in the garden of William Balcombe, an English merchant who became a purveyor to Napoleon. His 14 year old daughter Elizabeth Lucia ("Betsy") Balcombe
Betsy Balcombe
Lucia Elizabeth ″Betsy″ Balcombe Abell 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.-Biography:...
was the only family member who spoke French and she became the family translator. Because of his and his family's closeness to Napoleon, Balcombe 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:...
, and in 1818 he decided to leave the island and return to England. The Briars then was used as the home for the Admiral on duty in the station .
Later, Balcombe was offered a post in Australia. In 1959 the Pavilion was offered to the French Government by a descendant of William Balcombe, Dame Mabel Brookes
Mabel Brookes
Dame Mabel Brookes, DBE was an Australian community worker, activist, socialite, writer, memoirist and humanitarian....
, and became the third of the French properties on the island.
The Balcombe family homestead in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, was also named the Briars, and is now run by Mornington Peninsula shire and open to the public as a heritage house. Dame Mabel Brookes collected Napoleonic memorabilia which was also donated to the Mornington Peninsula shire; some is on display at the house.