Adopted 7 June 1927 on 92I/SE, as labelled on BC Lands map of British Columbia, 1884 et seq, and on Dominion Sectional sheet 111, Kamloops, 1916, and on BC map 1G, 1916.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Shown as "Bonepates River" [sic] on "sketch of Thompson's River District", 1827, by Archibald McDonald, HBC, which map also shows another "River Bonapate" [sic] entering the Okanagan River south of the 49th parallel. Both may be named after the great Napoleon Bonaparte, who died in 1821. Three Sandwhich Islanders nicknamed Bonaparte, Caesar and Washington were employed by the North West Company in 1814, but in menial capacities, and it is unlikely that the rivers were named after one of them.

Source: Provincial Archives of BC "Place Names File" compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions

Identified as "Riviere de Bonaparte" in Alexander Caulfield Anderson's journal (Saturday, 16 May 1846), and as "Bonaparte's River" in Anderson's official report of his explorations, 25 May 1846. Not named on John Arrowsmith's 1859 Map of the Provinces of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Labelled "Bonaparte River" on 1859 Sketch of part of British Columbia, by Lieut. Mayne, RN. Mis-spelled "Bonapate River" on Trutch's 1871 map of British Columbia.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Napolean Bonaparte (1769-1821), French general, consul, and emperor (1804--15), a titanic figure in European history. Born Napoleone Buonaparte in Ajaccio, Corsica. He entered the military schools at Brienne (1779) and Paris (1784), commanded the artillery at the siege of Toulon (1793), and was promoted brigadier-general. In 1796 he married Joséphine, widow of the Vicomte de Beauharnais, and soon after left for Italy, where he skilfully defeated the Piedmontese and Austrians, and made several gains through the Treaty of Campo Formio (1797). Intending to break British trade by conquering Egypt, he captured Malta (1798), and entered Cairo, defeating the Turks; but after the French fleet was destroyed by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, he returned to France (1799), having learned of French reverses in Europe. The coup d'état of 18th Brumaire followed (9 Nov 1799) in which Napoleon assumed power as First Consul, instituting a military dictatorship. He then routed the Austrians at Marengo (1800), made further gains at the Treaty of Luneville (1801), and consolidated French domination by the Concordat with Rome (re-establishing the Roman Catholic Church in France) and the Treaty of Amiens, 1802 (ending the Revolutionary Wars). Elected consul for life, he achieved popular appeal by returning France to economic stability. He assumed the hereditary title of emperor in 1804. His administrative, military, educational, and legal reforms (notably the Code Napoléon) made a lasting impact on French society. War with England was renewed, and extended to Russia and Austria. Forced by England's naval supremacy at Trafalgar (1805) to abandon the notion of invasion, he attacked the Austrians and Russians, gaining victories at Ulm and Austerlitz (1805). Prussia was defeated at Jena and Auerstadt (1806), and Russia at Friedland (1807). After the Peace of Tilsit, he became the arbiter of Europe. He then tried to cripple England with the Continental System, ordering the European states under his control to boycott British goods. He sent armies into Portugal and Spain, which resulted in the bitter and ultimately unsuccessful Peninsular War (1808-14). In 1809, wanting an heir, he divorced Joséphine, who was childless, and married the Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, a son being born in 1811. Believing that Russia was planning an alliance with England, he invaded, defeating the Russians at Borodino, before entering Moscow, but he was forced to retreat, his army broken by hunger and the Russian winter. In 1813 his victories over the allied armies continued at Lützen, Bautzen, and Dresden, but he was routed at Leipzig, and France was invaded. Forced to abdicate, he was given the sovereignty of Elba (1814). The unpopularity which followed the return of the Bourbons motivated him to return to France in 1815. He regained power for a period known as the Hundred Days, but was defeated by the combination of Wellington's and Blücher's forces at Waterloo. He fled to Paris, abdicated, surrendered to the British, and was banished to St Helena, where he died.

Source: Cambridge Biographical Encylopedia, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Shuswap name is "Kluhtows, meaning "gravelly river"

Source: Provincial Archives of BC "Place Names File" compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions