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| The history the Clock |  |
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The history of the clock...When Napoleon banished Josephine, she retired to various estates, but preferred La Maimison. The clock was taken to La Maimison. Upon Josephine's death in 1814, her son and daughter took posession of it. The Beauharnais family used it later as ransom for the attempted release of Napoleon from the isle of Helena. The attempt failed, of course, as history records. At the death of Napoleon, the clock disappeared.However, Joseph, the older brother of Napoleon came to Philedelphia in 1815, bringing with him a number of possessions, many of which are still found in the city. He also leased a number of houses in the local area, only one of which is still standing. It is thought that Joseph brought this clock with him when he came to Philadelphia. How the clock passed form the Beauharnais family (Josephine's) to Joseph Bonaparte would make a very intering story, as there was deep animosity between Josephine and Joseph almost from the moment they first met. Her children were equally despised by him. In 1936, the clock surfaced in the Philadelphia area and was donated to the
Franklin Institite by Mrs. S. Warren Ingersoll. In 1950,
the Empress Josephine clock received a massive renovation at the hands of an expert
named Orville R. Hagans in
Denver, Colorado, and was on display at the Denver Clock Mannor for five years before returning home
to Philadelphia. It is now on display at the Franklin Institute.
References
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