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30 BONAPARTE to his sister, the queen of France, he gained admission for his son Joseph to the college of Autun, destining him for the church. Joseph, however, agreed with Napoleon to become a sol- dier; but the father prevailed upon him shortly before his death to relinquish this project, and to devote himself to the task devolving on him as the eldest son of attending to the education and prosperity of his younger brothers and sis- ters. Joseph having completed his education at the university of Pisa, the grand duke of Tuscany wished to attach him to his service, but he preferred to rejoin his family in Cor- sica. In June, 1788, he was admitted as ad- vocate to the superior council at Bastia, and he became one of the most active and influen- tial members of the municipality. He was an early and zealous supporter of the French rev- olution of 1789, became president of his dis- trict, published a pamphlet on the new French constitution, was a member of the committee appointed to invite Paoli to Corsica, and became his secretary in the Corsican administration. During the English invasion of the island Jo- seph, who had been commander of militia, served at Toulon at the same time with his brother Napoleon. On Aug. 1, 1794, he mar- ried at Marseilles Marie Julio Clary, daughter of a rich merchant, and whose younger sister became in 1798 the wife of Bernadotte and afterward queen of Sweden. In 1796 he fol- lowed Napoleon to Italy as military commis- sary of his army, and was sent by him to Paris with Junot to deliver his trophies to the directory. Shortly afterward he was sent with a body of men to Corsica against the English ; but they having evacuated the isl- and before his arrival, he rejoined Napoleon, who procured for him the appointment of French envoy in Parma, which he exchanged in 1797 for that of French minister in Rome. His course during the commotions in that city in 1798 being approved by the directory, the mission to Berlin was tendered to him ; but he preferred joining the council of 500 as mem- ber elect from Corsica, his presence in Paris enabling him to watch over the interests of Napoleon, to whom he sent his Greek friend Bourbaki to urge his immediate return from Egypt. He cooperated with Napoleon in the events of the 18th Brumaire, introducing Mo- reau to him, and through the medium of Ca- banis making the first overtures to Sieyes. He declined a place in the cabinet, but ac- cepted a seat in the tribunate and in the council of state, and contributed essentially to the popularization of the new consular govern- ment by assisting Napoleon with his advice, and by rallying round him many supporters, his amenity of manners and conciliatory dis- position making friends for him in almost all classes of society. The same characteristics secured his success as the negotiator of the treaty of peace with the United States in 1800, with Germany at Luneville in 1801, and with Great Britain at Amiens in 1802 ; and subse- quently in concluding the concordat with the Roman see. When assuming the imperial dig- nity, Napoleon offered the crown of Lombardy to Joseph, who however preferred to remain in France as the presumptive successor to the new throne. In 1805 he was prevailed upon by his brother to accept a military position ; but as the latter had to leave for the seat of war, Jo- seph remained in Paris to share with Camba- c6res in the administration of the government. After 'the victorious return of Napoleon from Austerlitz, Joseph was sent with an army to Naples, entering the city in February, 1806, and assuming the title of king of Naples, accord- ing to the wishes of Napoleon, which had now become laws even for Joseph, to whom up to that time he had invariably shown great defer- ence. The cares of the throne were not con- genial to Joseph's quiet disposition ; and they were made the more harassing by the futile at- tempts to conquer Sicily and by other internal complications, and especially by the interfer- ence of his brother with his conciliatory meas- ures. Yet he became attached to the genial climate and to the people of Naples ; and after having reigned over them about two years with great mildness and with much solicitude for their prosperity, it was with reluctance, and only in obedience to his brother's inexorable will, that in 1808 he exchanged the throne of Naples for that of Spain. In an interview with Napoleon at Bayonne, Joseph insisted upon being recognized as king by the Span- iards previous to his departure for their coun- try, and Napoleon at once had a junta con- vened (June 15), which lost no time in giving the prescribed recognition. The new mon- arch left for Madrid, but a day after his arri- val there (July 20) he informed Napoleon of his deception and of the unconquerable hos- tility of the Spaniards. If left to himself, he might perhaps have made his rule acceptable to them ; but he was compelled to govern Spain, as he had been to govern Naples, not in the interest of the nation, but according to the dictates of Napoleon, who disdained to listen to Joseph's repeated remonstrances, sug- gestions, and entreaties; neither would he allow him to relinquish the throne, though Jo- seph wished to be relieved from its burdens. Three times during his administration of five years he was driven by hostile armies from his capital, the last time, in 1813, never to return. After transferring (July 12) the com- mand of the army to Soult, Joseph retired to a chateau near Bayonne, and soon afterward he rejoined his family at Mortfontaine, near Paris. On Dec. 29 he wrote to Napoleon placing him- self at his disposal, but yet expressing unwill- ingness to desert his duties as king of Spain. The emperor in January, 1814, made him lieu- tenant general of the empire in his absence, with large military and civil prerogatives as the head of the regency under Maria Louisa. In this capacity, when the allied army invested Paris in March, 1814, he authorized Marmont and