Prince Joachim Murat
(1834-1901)

Born at Bordentown in New Jersey on 21 June 1834, Prince Joachim Joseph Napoléon Murat was the eldest son of Prince Napoléon Lucien Charles Murat, 2nd Prince of Pontecorvo and 3rd Prince Murat. His grandfather was Joachim Murat, King of Naples, who married Napoléon's sister, Caroline Bonaparte. 

Following the fall of King Louis-Philippe in 1848, Joachim and his family moved to France, where his father was appointed a minister and senator. In 1852 Joachim entered the army, becoming an officer the following year and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1863. In 1866 he became a Colonel of a regiment of the Cavalry Guard. In 1870 he was made Brigadier General and participated in the war against Prussia that led to the end of the Second Empire.

After the fall of Napoléon III he retired to a private life but was able to maintain the title of General and Prince. He spent the rest of his life at his family's castle in Chambly. He died there on 23 October 1901. 

He married in 1854 Malcy Louise Caroline Berthier de Wagram, a daughter of the 2nd duc de Wagram. Their marriage produced two daughters and one son, the 5th Prince Murat. Following the death of his first wife in 1887 he married secondly Lady Lydia Hervey, without issue.