Eliza Jumel
Encyclopedia
Eliza Jumel was an American socialite. Born Eliza Bowen in Providence, Rhode Island
to Phebe Kelley Bowen, a prostitute. Early in life Eliza Jumel worked as a prostitute herself. She would later claim to have been born on the high seas to a French naval officer and his aristocratic English wife.
She kept her past a secret when she met and married the wealthy French wine merchant Stephen Jumel in 1804. Due to her low social standing, she was rejected by New York society. In 1810, they moved to what became known as the Morris-Jumel Mansion
.
In 1815, she traveled to Paris and became accepted as a Bonapartist
sympathizer, going so far as to offer Napoleon
safe passage to New York after his defeat at Waterloo
, which he declined. Her opinions and actions in France proved too controversial, and in 1816, she was asked to leave the country by King Louis XVIII
.
After leaving France, she returned to her home in New York, and her marriage began to deteriorate as Stephen Jumel, who stayed behind in France, saw his fortune decline and he learned of Eliza's early life as a prostitute. Eliza began selling Stephen's business holdings and using the profits to buy her way into New York society, eventually leaving her husband penniless.
Stephen Jumel died in 1832, and rumors persisted that Eliza had let him bleed to death. Fourteen months after her first husband's death, Eliza Jumel married the controversial former United States Vice President Aaron Burr
. She supposedly married to increase her stature; he, for access to her fortune. Burr in turn misused the remnants of the Jumel fortune, and the two divorced on September 14, 1836, the date of Burr's death. Jumel lived for the rest of her life in the Manhattan mansion, and died at age 90 in 1865. She was buried in Manhattan at the Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum
.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Phebe Kelley Bowen, a prostitute. Early in life Eliza Jumel worked as a prostitute herself. She would later claim to have been born on the high seas to a French naval officer and his aristocratic English wife.
She kept her past a secret when she met and married the wealthy French wine merchant Stephen Jumel in 1804. Due to her low social standing, she was rejected by New York society. In 1810, they moved to what became known as the Morris-Jumel Mansion
Morris-Jumel Mansion
The Morris-Jumel Mansion , located in Washington Heights, is the oldest house in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It served as a headquarters for both sides in the American Revolution....
.
In 1815, she traveled to Paris and became accepted as a Bonapartist
Bonapartist
In French political history, Bonapartism has two meanings. In a strict sense, this term refers to people who aimed to restore the French Empire under the House of Bonaparte, the Corsican family of Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew Louis...
sympathizer, going so far as to offer Napoleon
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...
safe passage to New York after his defeat at Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, which he declined. Her opinions and actions in France proved too controversial, and in 1816, she was asked to leave the country by King Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
.
After leaving France, she returned to her home in New York, and her marriage began to deteriorate as Stephen Jumel, who stayed behind in France, saw his fortune decline and he learned of Eliza's early life as a prostitute. Eliza began selling Stephen's business holdings and using the profits to buy her way into New York society, eventually leaving her husband penniless.
Stephen Jumel died in 1832, and rumors persisted that Eliza had let him bleed to death. Fourteen months after her first husband's death, Eliza Jumel married the controversial former United States Vice President Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
. She supposedly married to increase her stature; he, for access to her fortune. Burr in turn misused the remnants of the Jumel fortune, and the two divorced on September 14, 1836, the date of Burr's death. Jumel lived for the rest of her life in the Manhattan mansion, and died at age 90 in 1865. She was buried in Manhattan at the Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum
Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery consists of three separate burial grounds associated with Trinity Church in Manhattan, New York, USA. The first was established in the Churchyard located at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway...
.