How Napoleon Led to Riversdale’s Construction

Riversdale Mansion Riverdale Maryland

Henri Joseph Stier didn’t intend to become an American or build what is known today as Riversdale.

A wealthy Belgian, he fled with his family when Napoleon Bonaparte’s armies took over the country, ending up living in a rented mansion in Annapolis. For years, he held out hope of returning to home.

But in 1799, Napoleon abolished the five-member Directory and installed himself as the lead consul of a new three-member group. Historians now regard the move as the end of the end of the French Revolution and the beginning of Napoleon’s dictatorship.

As Stier wrote his son in a letter featured in “Mistress of Riversdale,” by Margaret Law Callcott, the move made him give up hope.

“If he intends to usurp power for himself, he will be another Robespierre, detested by all. I think the fate of this revolution is probably being decided as I write—it will either be a monarchy or a reign of terror and massacres,” he wrote, “We should abandon Europe to its fate and devote our attention to the country in which we are living.”

For Stier, that meant buying land. He’d already converted a large amount of his monetary holdings to American and he was ready to build a new home.

On Sept. 18, 1800, Stier successfully bid approximately $20,000 for more than 729 acres of land in Bladensburg, where he then built the mansion today known as Riversdale. He was later naturalized by an act of the Maryland state legislature.

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3 responses to “How Napoleon Led to Riversdale’s Construction”

  1. Jose Galdamez says:

    A couple years back I was surprised to find a pictorial history book about Riverdale at the Beltsville Costco. It goes over Stier’s arrival and so much more. As a Riverdale resident, I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/Riverdale-Images-America-Donald-Lynch/dp/0738587729

  2. Lise Nau says:

    Well, yes— but he did return to Belgium along with almost all his family, never to visit America again.
    (A general amnesty for landed aristocrats prompted his return to Europe) Rosalie was the only true American, in my view.

  3. Janet Nickerson says:

    The Stiers were descendants of artist Peter Paul Rubens. The family brought a large collection of 17th century Dutch/Flemish art to the US when they left Europe. The collection was stored at Riversdale (the family gave the house to Rosalie when they returned to Europe) until Napoleon was finally ousted from power. Rosalie and her husband held a display of the paintings for 6 weeks at Riversdale before the canvases were returned to the family estate in Belgium. The canvases were also shown to American artists on request (such as the Peales of Philadelphia).

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