Bonaparte Wyse

Bonaparte Wyse Waterford Museum of Treasures

Overview
c.30 artefacts - portraits, jewellery and other family heirlooms - of the ancient Catholic (Bonaparte) Wyse family of Waterford whose son married the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century. The collection includes the Green Book containing the Muniments of the Wyse family 1199-1867; an exquisite jet mourning cross set in gold that belonged to Napoleon's mother and 7 family portraits including only interior views of Newtown House before it was purchased from the Wyse family by the Society of Friends.

Special Strengths or Significance
The Wyse family, whose members feature prominently in almost every century of Waterford's civic life, perhaps uniquely in Ireland held on to their lands while remaining Catholic.

Keywords
Waterford, Wyse, Bonaparte, Napoleon, Sir Thomas Wyse, Bullocks Wyse, Laetitia Bonaparte Wyse, Mano