The Joseph Bonaparte House refers to the Philadelphia residence occupied by Joseph Bonaparte, former King of Naples and Spain and elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, during the early years of his American exile. After arriving in the United States in 1815 under the name “Count de Survilliers,” Joseph spent extended periods in Philadelphia, where he rented a townhouse near Seventh and Chestnut Streets, placing him close to the city’s political, commercial, and cultural center.Although far more modest than his later estate at Point Breeze in Bordentown, New Jersey, the Philadelphia house served as Joseph’s first American base of operations. From here he began rebuilding his life, receiving diplomats, intellectuals, and members of the city’s French expatriate community. Contemporary accounts describe the residence as elegantly furnished and stocked with books, art, and objects that reflected Joseph’s European tastes—an early hint of the grand collection he would later assemble at Point Breeze.The house itself no longer survives, but its location and associations mark an intriguing moment in Philadelphia’s cosmopolitan history: a deposed European monarch living quietly among merchants, lawyers, and artisans in the heart of the early republic. The site remains part of the broader narrative of Philadelphia as a refuge for political exiles and a crossroads of international culture in the 19th century.

Joseph Bonaparte House (Philadelphia)

Old Pine Street Church—originally founded as the Third Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia in 1768—is one of the city’s most significant surviving colonial-era religious buildings. Designed by noted carpenter‑architect Robert Smith, the original structure was a simple Georgian red‑brick church that quickly became a spiritual and civic anchor in the growing city.During the American Revolution, Old Pine stood at the heart of wartime Philadelphia. Its early pastor, Rev. George Duffield, was an outspoken patriot whose sermons encouraged resistance to British rule. The surrounding streets often filled with Continental soldiers and military supplies, and the churchyard became the burial place for 285 Revolutionary soldiers, two British soldiers, and many local residents.Through the 19th century, the church expanded with new walls, connecting buildings, and renovations that supported a growing congregation in Society Hill. Today, Old Pine is one of the few 18th‑century churches still standing in Philadelphia and remains the city’s largest Presbyterian church. Its grounds also include the burial site of John Adams, Philadelphia’s first mayor, and a memorial garden created through community support.Old Pine continues to serve as an active congregation, preserving its historic sanctuary while maintaining a commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Founded in 1768 by Presbyterian minister George Duffield, Old Pine Street Church at Fourth and Pine Streets is one of Philadelphia’s important Revolutionary-era landmarks. Known as the “Church of the Patriots,” it was closely associated with the American Revolution: Duffield served as a chaplain to the Continental Congress, and John Adams attended services there while Congress met in Philadelphia. The congregation and its leaders were also involved in disputes over the church’s property and its establishment within the Presbyterian community.The churchyard preserves an unusually rich record of Philadelphia’s early history. Those buried there include a signer of the U.S. Constitution, attendees of the Continental Congress, colonial printers, more than 200 Revolutionary War soldiers, a Liberty Bell ringer, and members of the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia, alongside tradespeople and other residents of the colonial city. The church also has connections to later history: Joseph Bonaparte, former King of Naples and brother of Napoleon, was married there in 1820.Together, the church and its cemetery provide a rare surviving link between Philadelphia’s religious life, the American Revolution, and the people who lived and worked in the colonial city.

A pre-1923 postcard. From RG 428, Postcard Collection, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church

Joseph Bonaparte remained in the United States until the 1830s, dividing his later years between Europe and America before his death in 1844. His American exile is remembered for its unexpected blend of royal grandeur and republican surroundings, and for the lasting cultural footprint he left on the Philadelphia region.

Joseph Bonaparte—older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte—was a European monarch who spent nearly two decades in the United States, leaving a distinctive imprint on early‑19th‑century Philadelphia and New Jersey. &nbsp;In 1815, Joseph sailed to America under the name “Count de Survilliers,” seeking privacy and political safety.He settled first in Philadelphia, then established an expansive estate called Point Breeze in Bordentown, New Jersey—one of the most celebrated residences in the young republic. The estate featured landscaped gardens, a vast art collection, and a library said to be among the finest in the country. Joseph became a quiet but influential figure in regional society, hosting diplomats, artists, scientists, and American political leaders. His presence added a cosmopolitan dimension to Philadelphia’s cultural life during the early republic.

Childhood Residence: Maison Bonaparte

Burial Site: Dôme des Invalides

Residence in Philadelphia: Joseph Bonaparte House

Joseph Bonaparte

He served as King of Naples (1806–1808) and King of Spain (1808–1813) before Napoleon’s defeat forced him into exile.

Joseph Bonaparte

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