The French Connection; The American Brides of the Brothers Murat

Catherine Daingerfield Willis Gray Murat

The first American born woman that I have found that actually had the title of Princess, and was acknowledge as such was born near Fredericksburg , VA on 17 August 1803. Her linage was already impressive as she was a great-grand niece of George Washington (His sister Betty was Catherine's great grandmother). Practically nothing is known of her early life, but it is thought that sometime around 1822 she married Atcheson Gray, the son of Robert Atcheson Gray. Her husband died within a few months of their marriage, and her only child, a son born after his father's death would also die before his mother turned twenty.

A few years later Catherine moved to Florida with her parents and a number of siblings. It was there she met and married in 1826 Prince Achille Murat. Prince Achille was the eldest son of Joachim Murate, who had been married to Napoleon Bonaparte's sister Caroline, and had been placed on the throne of Naples by Napoleon. Once Napoleon had been overthrown once and for all, The Kingdom of Naples was restored to its rightful king, who promptly had he elder Murat executed. Caroline Bonaparte went into exile, and later, when he reached 21, Achille sought approval to emigrate to the United States, as there would be little opportunity for him, as a deposed prince, in Europe.

Catherine made at least one trip to Europe, where she was addressed as "Princess Murat" and even attended the coronation of William IV in 1830.

In later years Catherine was involved in the nation's first preservation effort, to save Mount Vernon, her Great-Grand Uncle's home. As Vice Regent for the state of Florida she raised funds for the restoration effort.

Catherine died 9 days before her 64th birthday on August 6, 1867.

Caroline Georgina Frazer                                                              

If information is scare for Catherine, it is almost non-existent for Caroline Georgina Frazer, who married Prince Achille's younger brother, Lucien Murat.  What is known she was born in Charleston, SC on 13 April 1810. Not know is how she met Lucien, but on 18 August 1831 she married him in Bordentown, NJ. Unlike Achille, who had renounced his title's and any claims to any throne, Lucien was always trying to get them back. He made a number of trips to Europe, and eventually he and Caroline made their home there. They had five children, all of whom had titles and made rather grand sounding marriages. One fun fact, is that Caroline was the Great-Great-Grandmother of the actor Rene Auberjonois (His middle name is Murat).                                                                                     

Caroline Frazer, Princess Murat died in Paris on 10 February 1879 at the age of 69.