The Surrender of Napoleon Being the narrative of the surrender of Buonaparte, and of his residence on board H.M.S. Bellerophon, with a detail of the principal events that occurred in that ship between the 24th of May and the 8th of August 1815

An intimate, first‑hand chronicle follows the dramatic days after the Battle of Waterloo, when the defeated emperor was escorted to the English Channel and placed under guard on a Royal Navy warship. The narrator, a senior officer who commanded the vessel, records the uneasy negotiations, the strict discipline of his crew, and the surprising moments of humanity that emerge as the legendary leader adjusts to life as a prisoner.

Beyond the formalities, the account captures the cramped decks, the murmurs of the sailors, and the subtle power play between captor and captive. Readers hear Napoleon’s sharp mind at work, his attempts to negotiate his fate, and the quiet compassion that occasionally softens the stern British protocol. The narrative offers a vivid snapshot of a pivotal episode in European history, told through the eyes of one who witnessed the surrender up close, making the events feel immediate and personal.