Jean CHAPTAL recounts NAPOLEON's anger against his brother Lucien.

[NAPOLEON I] – Jean CHAPTAL (1756.1832)

Autograph manuscript – My memories.

A ½ page in folio. Slnd.

Curious manuscript by Chaptal testifying to Napoleon's memorable anger against his brother Lucien.

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“ I have never seen the 1st ^Consul agitated with anger similar to that which he experienced when he learned that his brother Lucien had married in Senlis with the widow of Jouberthon, a stockbroker in Paris. He ordered me to go and find the notary and tell him to bring his register, which was carried out. The notary arrived, I took him to St Cloud at 9 a.m. Here is word for word the dialogue which took place between the Emperor and the notary :

The emp . Was it you, sir, who received my brother's marriage certificate?

The note . Yes citizen 1st ^Consul .

The emp . Did you not know he was my brother?

The note . Non-citizen 1st ^Consul .

The emp . So you did not know that my consent was necessary to validate

The note . I do not think so. Your brother has been an adult for a long time, he has held important positions, he has been a minister and ambassador, he has no father, he is free to enter into contracts.

The emp . But he has a mother whose consent was required.

The note . No, he is an adult and a widower.

The emp . But I am sovereign and as such I had to give my consent.

The note . You are only sovereign for 10 years, no action binds your family towards you.

The emp . Show me this marriage certificate.

The note . Here it is.

The 1st ^Consul read the act and when closing the register he almost tore the page which contained it.

The emp . I will have this act quashed.

The note . It will be difficult because it is well cemented and everything is planned there.

The emp . Go away.

The notary left with his register without being disturbed for a moment.

The Emperor strongly reproached Lucien for his marriage and the argument heated up to such an extent that the Emperor reproached him for having married a widow, to which Lucien replied and you also married a widow [Josephine], but the mine is not old or smelly.

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Chemist and politician, Jean-Antoine CHAPTAL was received a doctor in Montpellier in 1777 and professor of chemistry at the Montpellier School of Medicine.

Called to Paris to work in National Defense, he managed the powder mill at Grenelle, helped organize the École Polytechnique and took up his chair in Montpellier. Appointed a member of the Institute in 1798, he returned to Paris to take care of the manufacture of chemicals. State Councilor under the Consulate, he was appointed by the Emperor Minister of the Interior in 1801, then became senator and count of the Empire.