Tormented by toothache and struck down by a severe fever: Exiled Napoleon spent his final years living in agony on the island of St Helena, a medical report from 203 years ago has revealed

  • Notes from Irish surgeon Barry O'Meara describe Napoleon as being 'tormented' by toothache while in exile on St Helena island
  • He was struck down by a severe fever, a headache, hot skin and racing pulse
  • O'Meara described his symptoms as 'a crisis in serious natures' in the report
  • Napoleon was incarcerated on island after his defeat at Battle of Waterloo in 1815

By RACHAEL BUNYAN FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A medical report for Napoleon which reveals he spent his final years living in agony while in exile on the island of St Helena has come to light 203 years later.

Notes from his Irish surgeon Barry O'Meara describe the French Emperor as being 'tormented' by toothache on the South Atlantic outpost.

It discloses that he was also struck down by a severe fever, a headache, hot skin and a racing pulse.

A medical report for Napoleon (pictured) which reveals he spent his final years living in agony while in exile on the island of St Helena has come to light 203 years later

A medical report for Napoleon (pictured) which reveals he spent his final years living in agony while in exile on the island of St Helena has come to light 203 years later

The medical report discloses that Napoleon was also struck down by a severe fever, a headache, hot skin and a racing pulse

The medical report discloses that Napoleon was also struck down by a severe fever, a headache, hot skin and a racing pulse

O'Meara was concerned enough about Napoleon Bonaparte's symptoms to label them 'a crisis of serious natures'.

Napoleon blamed his deteriorating health on ill-treatment at the hands of the Governor of St Helena, Sir Hudson Lowe.

He was described as a 'physical wreck' by the time of his death in 1821 following six years incarcerated on the island after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. 

Notes from his Irish surgeon Barry O'Meara (pictured) describe the French Emperor as being 'tormented' by toothache on the South Atlantic outpost.

Notes from his Irish surgeon Barry O'Meara (pictured) describe the French Emperor as being 'tormented' by toothache on the South Atlantic outpost.

Napoleon had his wisdom tooth removed by O'Meara after getting scurvy but this did not appear to remedy his ailment. 

'The patient has been very ill during Wednesday and Thursday nights,' O'Meara wrote in his report. 

'When called to see him I found him laboring under a considerable degree of fever.'

He continued: His countenance (facial expression) displaying anxiety and being evidently that of a man who was experiencing severe corporeal (body) sufferings, great increase of pain in the right side, rending headache, general anxiety and oppression, skin hot and dry, pulse quickened and everything portending a crisis of a serious natures.

'Being tormented in the afternoon with toothache I was obliged to extract the Dens Sapientiae of the left upper jaw.'

The one page hand-written bulletin, which dates from June 4, 1818, was sold with Heritage Auctions, of Dallas, Texas, fetching £1,500.

Napoleon was described as a 'physical wreck' by the time of his death in 1821 following six years incarcerated on the island of St Helena (pictured) after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815

Napoleon was described as a 'physical wreck' by the time of his death in 1821 following six years incarcerated on the island of St Helena (pictured) after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815

Napoleon spent six years on the heavily-guarded island, in the refurbished Longwood mansion (pictured), where visitors were thoroughly questioned and searched, before dying in May 1821

Napoleon spent six years on the heavily-guarded island, in the refurbished Longwood mansion (pictured), where visitors were thoroughly questioned and searched, before dying in May 1821

O'Meara was concerned enough about Napoleon Bonaparte's (pictured) symptoms to label them 'a crisis of serious natures'

O'Meara was concerned enough about Napoleon Bonaparte's (pictured) symptoms to label them 'a crisis of serious natures'

Napoleon: The French emperor in exile

Napoleon Bonaparte was first exiled to Elba in Italy after defeat in 1814 but he escaped and returned to France before being beaten again at Waterloo and imprisoned by the British on St Helena. 

The island is set entirely on its own, practically mid-point in the South Atlantic, 1,200 miles from Africa and 1,800 miles from South America.   

Napoleon was supported by South America after he backed the country when it was trying to gain independence from Spain. 

But Napoleon was one on the most closely guarded prisoners of all time, with a strong Royal Navy squadron of 11 ships patrolling the South Atlantic island where he was kept 1,200 miles from the nearest land.

Plots to rescue him included those using yachts, steamboats and balloons - and one was said to have even involved a submarine.

The escape plans were hatched despite Napoleon being confined to an astonishingly secure prison for the era, which was guarded by 2,800 men and 500 cannon on its handful of possible landing ports.

He spent six years on the heavily-guarded island, in the refurbished Longwood mansion, where visitors were thoroughly questioned and searched, before dying in May 1821, apparently of cancer.

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A Heritage spokesperson said: 'Barry O'Meara was an Irish surgeon who became Napoleon's physician at St Helena, having been surgeon on board the Bellerophon when the emperor surrendered himself.

'Napoleon was placed in Longwood House in December 1815, and he suffered from the poor conditions and treatment there.

'The removal of Napoleon's wisdom tooth was done in the autumn of 1817, and the surgery was supposedly the first medical operation performed on Napoleon during his lifetime.

'This medical bulletin by O'Meara reports on his ill health in exile.' 

Napoleon was first exiled to Elba in Italy after defeat in 1814 but he escaped and returned to France before being beaten again at Waterloo and imprisoned by the British on St Helena. 

The island is set entirely on its own, practically mid-point in the South Atlantic, 1,200 miles from Africa and 1,800 miles from South America.   

Napoleon was supported by South America after he backed the country when it was trying to gain independence from Spain. 

But Napoleon was one on the most closely guarded prisoners of all time, with a strong Royal Navy squadron of 11 ships patrolling the South Atlantic island where he was kept 1,200 miles from the nearest land.

Plots to rescue him included those using yachts, steamboats and balloons - and one was said to have even involved a submarine.

The escape plans were hatched despite Napoleon being confined to an astonishingly secure prison for the era, which was guarded by 2,800 men and 500 cannon on its handful of possible landing ports.

He spent six years on the heavily-guarded island, in the refurbished Longwood mansion, where visitors were thoroughly questioned and searched, before dying in May 1821, apparently of cancer.

In 2005, Napoleon's wisdom tooth, which was collected by O'Meara following the operation, sold with a British auction house for over £11,000.

More recently in 2013, a cast of Napoleon's death mask sold for almost £170,000 at a London auction house. The mask was made for a British chaplain shortly after his death.  

More recently in 2013, a cast of Napoleon's death mask sold for almost £170,000 at a London auction house. The mask was made for a British chaplain shortly after his death

More recently in 2013, a cast of Napoleon's death mask sold for almost £170,000 at a London auction house. The mask was made for a British chaplain shortly after his death

Napoleon Bonaparte

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