Roland Napoleon Bonaparte Paintings

Roland Napoleon Bonaparte was a French prince, geographer, and botanist, rather than a traditional artist. Born on May 19, 1858, in Paris, France, he was a grandnephew of Emperor Napoleon I of France through his father, Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte, who was the son of Lucien Bonaparte, one of Napoleon's rebellious brothers. His mother was Justine Eleanore Ruflin.

Roland was not a ruler or a military figure like many of his Bonaparte relatives. Instead, he pursued an academic and scientific career. He was interested in various fields including geology, anthropology, and botany. Bonaparte was particularly fascinated with geography and was actively involved with the Société de Géographie in Paris, serving as its president from 1910 until his death in 1924.

In addition to his geographical interests, Roland Napoleon Bonaparte dedicated a significant part of his life to botany. He amassed a considerable collection of plants and published several works on botanical subjects. One of his notable contributions was the creation of an extensive herbarium, which included a large number of specimens collected from around the world.

Bonaparte was also a member of several other learned societies and contributed to the advancement of science in his era through his memberships and his scholarly works. Despite his noble lineage, he did not involve himself in the political affairs of his time and remained committed to his scientific pursuits.

Roland Napoleon Bonaparte died on April 14, 1924, in Paris. Although he was a Bonaparte by birth, his legacy is distinctly separate from the military and political accomplishments of his ancestors. Instead, he is remembered for his contributions to the fields of geography and botany, as well as his role in advancing the scientific knowledge of his time.