Charles Joseph BONAPARTE, who assumed the portfolio of secretary of the navy in the cabinet of President Roosevelt, July 1, 1905, and since December 12, 1906, attorney general, was born at Baltimore, Maryland on June 9, 1851. His father was Jerome Napoleon BONAPARTE, son of Jerome, the brother of Napoleon I. of France, and Elizabeth (PATTERSON) BONAPARTE. His mother was Miss Susan May WILLIAMS of Baltimore, who married Jerome NAPOLEON at Baltimore in 1829.

Charles Joseph BONAPARTE, the younger of the two sons of his parents, was graduated from Harvard college in 1871, and from the Harvard law school in 1874. Returning to Baltimore, he began at once the practive of law in his native city, where he has continued to reside. His chosen profession, and a deep and constant interest in civil service reform and in practical efforts to further good government and to secure needed political reforms in his own state and city and in the country-at-large, have occupied him for the more than thirty years since he began the practice of law.

He was for many years chairman of the Council of the National Civil Service Reform League, resigning that positon July 22, 1905; he was appointed a member of the United States Board of Indian Commissioners in 1902, resigning in 1904 in order to act as one of the presidential electors for the state of Maryland, on the Roosevelt ticket. He is a member of the executive committee of the Civic Federation. He was named, by Secretary HITCHCOCK with the approval of President ROOSEVELT in 1904, special inspector to investigate affairs in the Indian Territory. He received in 1903 the Laetare medal given by the Univeristy of Notre Dame.

Mr. Bonaparte married Miss Ellen Channing DAY, of Newport, Rhode Island on September 1, 1875.

Always a member of the Republican party, Mr. Bonaparte has maintained his personal independence in party matters; and his leading influence in the partry affairs of his city and of his state is due to his acknowledged character, and to his fearless independence.

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