Irish surgeon (1786 -1836) who accompanied Napoleon to St. Helena and became his physician, having been surgeon on board the Bellerophon when the emperor surrendered himself, and would later supervise Napoleon’s autopsy. Rare ALS in French, signed “Barry E. O’Meara,” one page, 4.5 x 7.25, April 9. Letter addressed to “Sire” most likely either Louis or Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brothers. In part: “Permit me to present to you…M. Corbett, Lieutenant in the Royal Marines, my friend for many years. He was at St. Helena where he rendered service to your brother, for which he was offered compensation which he refused. He shall arrive in Paris and desires the opportunity to offer his respects to Your Majesty, before leaving for the island where he shall domicile himself.” In fine condition, with a few small creases and light stains.
After his final defeat at Waterloo and his subsequent second exile, Napoleon spent ten weeks sailing to St. Helena, a small and windswept island under British control…and half the size of his former home-in-exile, Elba. Though he purportedly enjoyed the company of some island residents, he resented having to be accompanied by a British escort, an act he found “offensive.” It was during his time on St. Helena that Bonaparte began writing his memoirs and creating a legend around his name. RRAuction COA.
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