Papers of Burt Eddy Taylor, 1928-1969, American book collector

Scope and Content

  • Louis-Pierre Anquetil, L'Histoire de France vol 1 1805
  • Signal code book from St Helena September 1815
  • 24 prints, water-colours and engravings, including Napoleon and Saint Helena 1756-1839
  • Estate valuation 1784
  • Correspondence, including concerning the Bonaparte family 1804-1855
  • Napoleon II's exercise book 1825
  • Papers of Carlo Bonaparte undated
  • Miscellaneous French documents, including marriage and import licences, commissions and Award of the Legion d'Honneur 1796-1813
  • Obituary 1863
  • Map, newspaper report and manuscript concerning Battle of Waterloo 1815

Administrative / Biographical History

Burt Eddy Taylor was an American who collected books and documents on  Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832 ) and Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821 ).

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821 ), statesman, was born on Corsica and he was sent to a French military academy at Brienne and the Ecole Militaire, Paris. In 1785 he was commissioned a second lieutenant of artillery. He was given command of the French Army of Italy and in  1798  he invaded Egypt. In  1799  he returned to France and overthrew the government, becoming First Consul of France. He drew up the Code Napoleon (1804 ) which remains the basis of civil law in France and other countries. In  1802  he became Consul for Life and in  1804  he crowned himself Emperor. He freed himself from his childless marriage with Josephine Beauharnais in 1809 and in 1810 he married Marie-Louise, one of the daughters of Francis I, Emperor of Austria. From  1812  he was in control of most of Europe but was fiercely resisted by Great Britain. Following a failed invasion of Russia in 1812, he was gradually pushed back to Paris and in  1814  he was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Elba. The new French king, Louis XVIII, proved to be unpopular and in  1815  Napoleon again advanced on Paris but was defeated at Waterloo by an allied army led by the Duke of Wellington. The British exiled Napoleon to St Helena, until his death in  1821 .

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Gift: Burt Eddy Taylor: 1969

Other Finding Aids

Further details about the collection are held on  Stirling University Library web-based catalogue.

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Manager, Library Liaison and Training.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 559 procedures

Custodial History

Held by Burt Eddy Taylor's family from 1928 or 1929 and obtained from Gabriel Welles, rare book dealer, New York.

Accruals

Addcitions possible

Related Material

No related material

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Fonds level description compiled by H M Kemp and Alan Borthwick, Scottish Archive Network project, 10 May 2002.

Subjects