Chapter II: Preface: vii

CHRONOLOGY xxv

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Audubon's growing fame—Experience in Paris in
1828—Cuvier's patronage—Audubon's publications—His
critics—His talents and accomplishments—His
Americanism and honesty of purpose—His foibles
and faults—Appreciations and monuments—The Audubon
Societies—Biographies and autobiography—Robert Buchanan
and the true history of his _Life of Audubon_ 1

CHAPTER II

JEAN AUDUBON AND HIS FAMILY

Extraordinary career of the naturalist's father—Wounded
at fourteen and prisoner of war for five years in
England—Service in the French merchant marine and
navy—Voyages to Newfoundland and Santo Domingo—His
marriage in France—His sea fights, capture and
imprisonment in New York—His command at the Battle of
Yorktown—Service in America and encounters with British
privateers 24

CHAPTER III

JEAN AUDUBON AS SANTO DOMINGO PLANTER AND MERCHANT

Captain Audubon at Les Cayes—As planter, sugar refiner,
general merchant and slave dealer, amasses a fortune—His
return to France with his children—History of the Santo
Domingo revolt—Baron de Wimpffen's experience—Revolution
of the whites—Opposition of the abolitionists—Effect
of the Declaration of Rights on the mulattoes—The
General Assembly drafts a new constitution—First
blood drawn between revolutionists and loyalists
at Port-au-Prince—Ogé's futile attempt to liberate
the mulattoes—Les Cayes first touched by revolution
in 1790, four years after the death of Audubon's
mother—Emancipation of the mulattoes—Resistance of the
whites—General revolt of blacks against whites and the
ruin of the colony 36

CHAPTER IV

AUDUBON'S BIRTH, NATIONALITY, AND PARENTAGE

Les Cayes—Audubon's French Creole mother—His early
names—Discovery of the Sanson bill with the only record
of his birth—Medical practice of an early day—Birth
of Muguet, Audubon's sister—Fougère and Muguet taken
to France—Audubon's adoption and baptism—His assumed
name—Dual personality in legal documents—Source of
published errors—Autobiographic records—Rise of enigma
and tradition—The Marigny myth 52

CHAPTER V

LIEUTENANT AUDUBON AS REVOLUTIONIST

Background of Audubon's youth—Nantes in Revolution—Revolt
in La Vendée—Siege of Nantes—Reign of terror under
Carrier—Plague robbing the guillotine—Flight of the
population—Execution of Charette—The Chouan raid—Citizen
Audubon's service—He reenters the navy and takes a
prize from the English—His subsequent naval career—His
losses in Santo Domingo—His service and rank—Retires on
a pension—His death—His character and appearance 73

CHAPTER VI

SCHOOL DAYS IN FRANCE

Molding of Audubon's character—Factor of
environment—Turning failure into success—An indulgent
step-mother—The truant—His love of nature—Early drawings
and discipline—Experience at Rochefort—Baptized in the
Roman Catholic Church 90

CHAPTER VII

FIRST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, AND LIFE AT
"MILL GROVE"

Audubon is sent to the United States to learn
English and enter trade—Taken ill—Befriended by the
Quakers—Settles at "Mill Grove" farm—Its history and
attractions—Studies of American birds begun—Engagement
to Lucy Bakewell—Sports and festivities 98

CHAPTER VIII

DACOSTA AND THE "MILL GROVE" MINE

Advent of a new agent at "Mill Grove"—Dacosta becomes
guardian to young Audubon and exploits a neglected lead
mine on the farm—Correspondence of Lieutenant Audubon and
Dacosta—Quarrel with Dacosta—Audubon's return to France 113

CHAPTER IX

AUDUBON'S LAST VISIT TO HIS HOME IN FRANCE

Life at Couëron—Friendship of D'Orbigny—Drawings of
French birds—D'Orbigny's troubles—Marriage of Rosa
Audubon—The Du Puigaudeaus—Partnership with Ferdinand
Rozier—Their Articles of Association—They sail from
Nantes, are overhauled by British privateers, but land
safely at New York—Settle at "Mill Grove" 127

CHAPTER X

"LA GERBETIÈRE" OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Home of Audubon's youth at Couëron—Its situation on
the Loire—History of the villa and commune—Changes of a
century 136

CHAPTER XI

FIRST VENTURES IN BUSINESS AT NEW YORK, AND SEQUEL TO
THE "MILL GROVE" MINE

Audubon and Rosier at "Mill Grove"—Their partnership
rules—Attempts to form a mining company lead to
disappointment—Decision to sell their remaining
interests in "Mill Grove" to Dacosta—Division of the
property and legal entanglements—Audubon as a clerk
in New York—Business correspondence and letters to his
father—Later history of the lead mine and Dacosta—Audubon
continues his drawings in New York and works for Dr.
Mitchell's Museum—Forsakes the counting-room for the
fields—Personal sketch 146

CHAPTER XII

EARLY DRAWINGS IN FRANCE AND AMERICA

Child and man—His ideals, perseverance and progress—Study
under David at Paris—David's pupils and studios—David
at Nantes arouses the enthusiasm of its citizens—His
part in the Revolution—His art and influence over
Audubon—Audubon's drawings of French birds—Story of the
Edward Harris collection—_The Birds of America_ in the
bud—Audubon's originality, style, methods, and mastery
of materials and technique—His problem and how he solved
it—His artistic defects 173

CHAPTER XIII

AUDUBON'S MARRIAGE AND SETTLEMENT IN THE WEST

Audubon and Rozier decide to start a pioneer store at
Louisville, Kentucky—Their purchase of goods in New
York—"Westward Ho" with Rozier—Rozier's diary of the
journey—An unfortunate investment in indigo—Effect of
the Embargo Act—Marriage to Lucy Bakewell—Return to
Louisville—Life on the Ohio—Depression of trade—William
Bakewell's assistance—Audubon's eldest son born at the
"Indian Queen"—The Bakewells—Life at Louisville 186