David Chandler (1934-2004) was a well-known Napoleonic historian. His monumental The Campaigns of Napoleon came out in 1966 and established him as a respected expert on the Emperor. Towards the end of his life he too became convinced that Napoleon had been poisoned.
Here is the letter he wrote in reply to an article written by Victor Blair - Who Murdered Napoleon Probably Nobody! - which appeared in the Napoleonic Gazette Vol. 2002, No 1.
'To the Editor,
Victor Blair (vol 2002 No 1) may say what he likes, but I am not really concerned ".... on Napoleon's health and the possible poisoning". That aspect is certainly Dr. Ben Weider's main area. I am, on the other hand, deeply involved into the (nasty) Comte d'Artois and above all of Comte de Montholon, the so-called Lt. General as Napoleon's "best friend" at St. Helena. He has been proved a criminal several times over and the myth that he was Napoleon's only real friend on St. Helena is an absolute cock-and-bull story.
We now know that the emperor was murdered; I support Dr. Weider's thesis completely. I am much more concerned "by whom?" and "why?" Mr. Blair kindly refers to me as an authority on the battles, but I am currently deeply into the events from the spring of 1814 to May of 1820. My research with the Montholon notes at the Chateau de Vincennes uncovered the fact that there are serious gaps in the documents and that Montholon was undoubtedly involved in various plots with the Comte d'Artois (later Charles X). This period remains very dark and incomplete, and my illness will prevent me from being the one to do the conclusive research on the matter, but rest assured the truth will eventually come out and it will not be favorably to Comte de Montholon.
Sincerely, David G. Chandler.'
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