When did Napoleon Bonaparte stay at The Briars Pavilion on Saint Helena?
Napoleon Bonaparte stayed at The Briars Pavilion during late 1815. Historical records confirm this brief residence occurred immediately after his arrival on the remote island.
Questions about Briars, Saint Helena
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was Elizabeth Lucia Balcombe and what role did she play for Napoleon?
Elizabeth Lucia Balcombe was fourteen years old when she began translating for Napoleon. Her father William Balcombe served as an English merchant who supplied goods to the exiled emperor, but Elizabeth spoke French making her the sole family member capable of communicating with him directly.
Why did Hudson Lowe force the Balcombe family to leave Saint Helena in 1818?
Hudson Lowe served as Governor of Saint Helena and viewed the Balcombes with deep distrust because he believed their closeness to Napoleon violated strict exile protocols. In 1818, Lowe forced William Balcombe to leave the island entirely under official orders from colonial authorities.
What happened to The Briars Pavilion after the Balcombes departed in 1827?
The East India Company purchased the property in 1827 for £6,000 and converted the building into a silk production facility while growing mulberry trees nearby. Dame Mabel Brookes acquired it in 1959 before donating the property to the French government shortly after acquisition.
How many French properties exist on Saint Helena today including The Briars Pavilion?
France appointed Dame Mabel Brookes Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1960 for her donation which made The Briars the third French property on the island alongside Longwood House and his tomb in Sane Valley.