Frederick Lewis Maitland (Royal Navy Rear-admiral) - Maitland and Napoleon

Maitland and Napoleon

Maitland's instincts proved correct, and Napoleon arrived at Rochefort in early July. Finding escape barred by the patrolling Bellerophon, and unable to remain in France, he authorised the opening of negotiations with the commander of the British warship off the coast. The negotiations opened on 10 July. Maitland refused the request to allow Napoleon to sail for America, but offered to take him to England instead. The negotiations went on for four days, but eventually Napoleon acquiesced. He embarked on 15 July with his staff and servants, coming aboard surrendered to Maitland. Maitland placed his cabin at the former emperor's disposal and sailed the Bellerophon to England. She reached Torbay on 24 July, but was ordered to Plymouth, whilst a decision was made by the government over Bonaparte's fate. She sailed again on 4 August and whilst off Berry Head on 7 August, Napoleon and his staff were removed to HMS Northumberland, which conveyed him to his final exile on Saint Helena. Maitland later wrote a detailed Narrative of Bonaparte's time on the Bellerophon, which he subsequently published in 1826.