Plaque

Napoleon III

Erection date: 1867

Inscription

Napoleon III lived here, 1848.

{Almost hidden in the decorative border:}
Erected by the Society of Arts

Above the name an eagle is depicted.

Site: Napoleon III (1 memorial)

SW1, King Street, 1b - 1c

This is the oldest surviving official blue plaque, erected in 1867, and is the only one erected during a subject's lifetime.

2022: This house was for sale. The interior photos show a rather dull, out-of-date but up-market decor, but the blurb gives some interesting historical details: "Napoleon III escaped to England after a failed coup in 1840, and in 1847 took the lease on 1C King Street, transforming it into a tribute to his famous family, installing a portrait of Napoleon I by Delaroche and uniforms worn by his uncle in the large first floor drawing room. He became an honourary member of some of London's most exclusive clubs, and had an affair with heiress Harriet Howard, who funded his return to France. After the fall of the Bourbon monarchy in 1848, Napoleon III returned to France and was elected president a year later. He reportedly left his London home in haste, as there was still bath water in his tub, and his bed was unmade."

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Napoleon III

Subjects commemorated i

Napoleon III of France

Last monarch of France. Son of Louis Bonaparte (Napoleon I's brother) and Hor...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Napoleon III

Created by i

Royal Society of Arts

Founded by William Shipley as the "Society of Arts" in Rawthmell's Coffee Hou...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Terence MacSwiney

Terence MacSwiney

SW2, Lyham Road, Rear wall of Brixton Prison

The design of this spray-painted graffiti is cheekily copied from the English Heritage blue plaques. According to Wikipedia MacSwiney "w...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
London Fire Brigade HQ

London Fire Brigade HQ

SE1, Albert Embankment, London Fire Brigade Headquarters

This building, by Higgs and Hill, is basically a rather massive office block but it has some lovely carved reliefs of firemen doing what ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Harrow School - gates - west pier

Harrow School - gates - west pier

HA1, Church Hill

The gate piers with the urns, that can be seen in our photo, each have a plaque on the other, north facing, side. These are only visible ...

War dead | WW1
1 subject commemorated
Freddie Mercury - Gladstone Avenue

Freddie Mercury - Gladstone Avenue

TW14, Gladstone Avenue, 22

Plaque unveiled by Mercury's sister and Brian May. We thought it strange that English Heritage decided that his real first name was Fred...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Arthur Haygarth

Arthur Haygarth

SW1, Warwick Way, 88

Arthur Haygarth, 1825-1903, cricketer, historian, Old Harrovian, died here. City of Westminster

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

John Hunter, Leicester Square

John Hunter, Leicester Square

WC2, Leicester Square

All four of the Leicester Square busts were removed in the 2010-12 redesign of the Square - see (Hogarth bust for more information. 

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
William of Wykeham

William of Wykeham

Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England and founder of Winchester College. Reconstructed Windsor Castle for King Edward III. Click on external site for more information. And see Winchester gees...

Person, Architecture, Politics & Administration, Property, Religion

4 memorials
Rik Mayall 2

Rik Mayall 2

W6, Hammersmith Broadway, Junction with Queen Caroline Street

The wording of the plaque is a group effort. 'The man, the myth the legend was suggested by his daughter Bonnie. 'Pan global phenomenon' ...

1 subject commemorated
Matthew Bell

Matthew Bell

Psychoanalyst who works near West Smithfield and is interested in local history.  He felt passionately that there should be a memorial where the denouement of the 1381 revolt took place and where T...

Person, History, Medicine

2 memorials
A. Lapierre

A. Lapierre

Canadian firefighter, a section leader from Montreal. Died in a road accident in Bristol. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Section Leader Alfred Lapierre was born on 19 January 1893...

Person, Emergency Services, Canada

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial