29 Facts About Achille Murat

Charles Louis Napoleon Achille Murat was the eldest son of Joachim Murat, the brother-in-law of Napoleon who was appointed King of Naples during the First French Empire.

At the age of 21, Achille Murat emigrated to the United States and settled at St Augustine, Florida, becoming a naturalized citizen sometime after July 1828 and dropping his European titles.

Achille Murat was born in the Hotel de Brienne in Paris, France.

Achille Murat's father was Joachim Murat, the son of an affluent farmer and innkeeper, who became one of Napoleon's loyal followers.

Joachim Murat was appointed Marshal of the Empire for his military service, and was later awarded royal positions by Napoleon under the First French Empire, including the throne of the Kingdom of Naples.

Achille Murat was styled Grand Duchess of Berg and Queen of Naples, while Achille was considered the crown prince.

Achille Murat had a striking resemblance to his famous uncle in countenance and mannerisms.

Achille Murat enrolled in the local militia and was briefly a volunteer under the command of his personal friend, Brig.

Achille Murat purchased an extensive property of 2,800 acres and developed it into a plantation, utilizing slave labor to grow oranges, sugar cane, cotton, and tobacco.

Achille Murat liked to go nude and made a submersible chair to escape the heat of the north Florida summers, using it to sit naked in the waters of Moses Creek with mosquito netting over his head.

Achille Murat was known to have experimented with eating baked turkey buzzard, boiled owl, roasted crow, stewed alligator, lizards and rattlesnakes.

Achille Murat had an aversion to baths, did not like to change his clothes, "washed his feet only after he wore out his shoes", and slept on a mattress stuffed with Spanish moss.

Around 1825, Achille Murat bought the land he would call Lipona Plantation, 15 miles east of Tallahassee.

Achille Murat lived there during the remainder of Florida's territorial and early statehood days.

The name Lipona is an anagram of "Napoli", the kingdom where Achille Murat once thought he would succeed his father.

Achille Murat purchased Lipona at the prodding of the Marquis de Lafayette, beneficiary of the Lafayette Land Grant of July 4,1825, which had granted him 36 square miles of land near what would become the city of Tallahassee.

Many authors have repeated claims that Achille Murat was an elected alderman of Tallahassee in 1824, mayor in 1825, and its longest-serving postmaster.

Achille Murat met Catherine Daingerfield Willis Gray in 1826 and married her on July 12 of that year at Tallahassee, Florida.

Macomb and Achille Murat met at a local dueling ground near Hiamones Lake.

Achille Murat's shot went through Macomb's shirt without touching flesh, and Macomb's took off half of the little finger of Achille Murat's right hand.

Achille Murat would retain the rank of lieutenant-colonel the rest of his life.

Achille Murat wrote on slavery, economics, and literature as well, but his books never caught on with the public.

Achille Murat was a staunch defender of slavery although he professed to fight for human liberty.

Achille Murat's attempts were futile, and in 1834 the Murats returned to the Tallahassee area.

Achille Murat lost it in 1839 when he could no longer meet his financial obligations as a result of the delayed effects of the financial recession of 1837.

Achille Murat died there in 1847, and was buried in the St John's Episcopal Church cemetery in Tallahassee.

Achille Murat proved to be a better handler of money than her husband had been, and purchased the Bellevue Plantation in 1854.

Achille Murat held court among her friends and admirers until after the Civil War.

Catherine Achille Murat died in 1867 and was buried at the St Johns Episcopal Church cemetery.