Mourning Ring with Napoleon’s hair from St. Helena

After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was sent into exile to St Helena, a small windswept island in the South Atlantic. He remained a prisoner until his death six years later in 1821. The British Royal Navy controlled the waters in the area to ensure that he did not escape. For Bonaparte, this final period was devoted to writing his memoirs.

While this incarceration was no doubt an ignominious end to a meteoric career, Napoleon was still acclaimed across Europe. His English admirers included the architect and collector, Sir John Soane.

Bonaparte was accompanied to St Helena by a small group of his household staff and followers: General Henri Bertrand, General Charles Montholon, and his secretary, Emanual de Las Cases. He was also entertained by William Balcombe, a minor official of the East India Company, and his children.

After Napoleon’s death, in addition to writing memoirs of their time with him, the inhabitants of St. Helena made substantial profits selling objects he had supposedly owned. But, as in the case of other heroes, particular value was given to locks of his hair. Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Balcolmbe, aged 16, who had been Napoleon’s favourite, was the recipient of at least one of them. In 1822, she was moved by Soane’s genuine fascination with the Emperor and presented it (or possibly sold it) to him in London.

Soane had a special ring made for it with the inscription: ‘This lock of hair of Napoleon Buonaparte was presented to John Soane Esquire by Miss Elizabeth Balcombe’. It became a treasured family heirloom.

Image provided courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soane’s Museum. This ring was acquired by the Sir John Soane’s Museum with the assistance of a major grant from the Art Fund.

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