Broche émail | Enamel brooch

General William Crokat joined the 20th Foot Regiment in 1807 in Sicily as an ensign. When he joined the army his father told him: "Avoid duels—they are the pride of fools. Remember that death is better than disgrace."

In 1808, he became a lieutenant and served in the Peninsular War under Wellington at the battles of Corunna, Vimiera, Vittoria, and Roncesvalles. At one of these battles he was severely wounded. In 1809 he took part in the Walcheren Campaign, but was soon invalided after contracting a fever. In 1814 he was promoted to Captain, and in 1819 he was posted to St. Helena, the island in the South Atlantic upon which Napoleon Bonaparte had been imprisoned after his defeat at the battle of Waterloo.

On April 26, 1821, he was appointed the orderly officer at Napoleon’s residence, Longwood House. This meant he was the officer in charge of security. He was required to confirm Napoleon’s presence on a daily basis, preferably by actually seeing him. This was a sensitive task as Napoleon threatened to shoot anyone who invaded his privacy. According to one account, Crokat was chosen for the role because of his height - he was six feet two inches tall - because it was thought his stature would be an advantage in his duty to observe Napoleon. He was nicknamed ‘Hercules’ by the Longwood residents.

Crokat was the last survivor of those who saw Napoleon on his deathbed. He saved the little scrap of paper sent into the next room by Dr. Arnott, and on it the words, "Crokat, why don't you come in ? He is gone.—A. A.". Among his other souvenirs of Napoleon was the wooden spatula used by Napoleon to clean his spade when gardening.

On the evening of July 4, 1821, Crokat delivered the news of Napoleon's death to England, for which service he was promoted to Major and awarded £500 by a grateful nation.

After this Crokat served in India for some years and retired on half-pay in 1826. He then spent several years travelling in Italy and was subsequently promoted to Lt.-Colonel in 1837, Colonel in 1851, MajorGeneral in 1855, Lt.-General in 1861, and General in 1871. There were still those in France who hated him for his role in the imprisonment of Napoleon. Once when in Paris, he was attacked, but a button of his uniform deflected the dagger of the would-be assassin.

He retired to Edinburgh, where he lived at 52 Inverleith Row. He died on November 6, 1879 and is buried in Warriston Cemetery.