Which remote Atlantic island was Napoleon exiled to after his final defeat in 1815? Saint Helena was his destination.
After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo on 18 June 1815 and his second abdication, he surrendered to the British rather than escape to the United States. The British government chose Saint Helena because the volcanic island was exceptionally isolated in the South Atlantic and could be closely guarded.
Napoleon reached the island in October 1815 and spent most of his captivity at Longwood House. The harsh climate, restricted movement, and constant supervision made the exile very different from the relatively comfortable sovereignty he had briefly enjoyed on Elba. He dictated memories and accounts of his reign to companions during these years.
Napoleon died on Saint Helena on 5 May 1821, after roughly five and a half years of captivity. Elba is the common mix-up: it was the site of his first exile in 1814, before he returned to France for the Hundred Days and his final defeat.