Benjamin Bathurst (diplomat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Bathurst
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| Born | 18 March 1784 |
| Disappeared | 25 November 1809 (aged 25) Perleberg, Prussia |
| Occupation | Diplomatic envoy |
| Spouse(s) | Phillida Call |
| Parent(s) | Henry Bathurst, Bishop of Norwich |
Benjamin Bathurst was a British diplomat who vanished mysteriously in Prussia in 1809. This happened during a time of big wars in Europe, called the Napoleonic Wars. He was the third son of Henry Bathurst, who was a Bishop. His sister was a poet named Caroline de Crespigny.
Benjamin Bathurst's disappearance has been a puzzle for a long time. Many people thought it was a sudden or even supernatural event. However, newer research suggests that the story of his disappearance might have been made more dramatic over time. It is now believed he was most likely murdered.
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Benjamin Bathurst's Diplomatic Work
Benjamin Bathurst started working in diplomacy when he was quite young. He became a Secretary at the British office in Livorno, which is now in Italy. In 1805, he married Phillida Call.
In 1809, Bathurst was sent to Vienna, Austria. His job was to help bring Austria and the United Kingdom back together as allies. He also tried to convince the Austrian Emperor to declare war on France. The Emperor did declare war in April. However, Austria lost a major battle and had to make peace with France. After this, Bathurst was called back to London. He decided the safest way home was to travel north and catch a ship from Hamburg, which was in Prussia.
The Mystery of His Disappearance
On November 25, 1809, Bathurst and his helper, Herr Krause, were traveling by carriage. They were using fake names, "Baron de Koch" and "Fischer." They stopped in a town called Perleberg, which is west of Berlin. They ordered new horses at the post house. Then, Bathurst and Krause went to a nearby inn called the White Swan.
After ordering dinner, Bathurst spent several hours writing in a small room. Their departure was delayed. Around 9 PM, they were told the horses were ready. Bathurst left his room right away. Krause followed him, but was surprised to find Bathurst was not in the carriage. He was nowhere to be found.
At the time, Bathurst's disappearance did not cause much alarm. Prussia was full of bandits and soldiers from Napoleon's army. Murders and robberies were common. So, the loss of one traveler was barely noticed. There were also very few police in Prussia back then. News of his disappearance took weeks to reach England. This was after Krause managed to get on a ship in Hamburg. In December, Bathurst's father, Henry Bathurst, learned about his son's disappearance.
Bathurst's wife, Phillida, immediately went to Prussia to look for him. She was joined by an explorer named Heinrich Röntgen. When they arrived in Perleberg, they found that the local police were already investigating. A Captain von Klitzing was in charge. He searched vigorously. On November 26, 1809, the nearby river was searched. The next day, Bathurst's valuable fur coat was found hidden in an outhouse. Later, on December 16, 1809, two old women found Bathurst's pants in the woods.
The investigation showed that a man named August Schmidt worked at the White Swan. His mother also worked there and had taken Bathurst's coat. Another woman said that August had followed Bathurst after he left a coffee house. She thought August might have murdered him.
A reward of 500 thalers was offered for any information. This caused many false reports from people hoping to get the money. In March, Phillida searched the entire Perleberg area. She spent a lot of money and even used trained dogs, but found nothing. She then traveled to Berlin and even Paris. She met Napoleon Bonaparte himself. She hoped he could tell her what happened to her husband. However, Napoleon said he knew nothing and offered to help.
Newspaper Reports from the Time
By January 1810, newspapers in England and France started reporting on Bathurst's disappearance. The Times newspaper in England published an article. It said there was reason to believe Mr. Bathurst had died. It mentioned that a French newspaper said he showed signs of mental illness and died by his own hand. However, The Times also reported that some believed the French government was involved. They thought he was seized by French soldiers.
The French government was upset by these accusations. Their official newspaper, Le Moniteur Universel, responded. It said that England was the only country that paid assassins. It also claimed that Mr. Bathurst was mentally unstable. The French newspaper suggested that British diplomats were often "foolish and senseless."
Discovery in 1852
On April 15, 1852, something important was found. A house near Perleberg, not far from the White Swan inn, was being torn down. A skeleton was discovered under the stable floor. The back of the skull had a fracture, like from a heavy blow. All the upper teeth were perfect. However, one lower molar looked like it had been removed by a dentist.
The owner of the house had bought it in 1834. The previous owner had worked at the White Swan when Bathurst disappeared. Bathurst's sister traveled to Perleberg to see the skeleton. But she could not say for sure if the skull belonged to her brother.
More Recent Investigations
A detailed investigation was done by a writer named Mike Dash. His findings were published in 1990. He concluded that the mysterious parts of Bathurst's disappearance had been greatly exaggerated over the years. He believes that Benjamin Bathurst was almost certainly murdered.
See also
- List of people who disappeared
