[5] He was appointed harpist to the Imperial Orchestra of Napoleon in 1813, and began writing operas for the Opéra-Comique.

However, in 1817 he became entangled in counterfeiting, fraud, and forgery, and fled to London to avoid prosecution.

He was convicted in absentia, and sentenced to twelve years hard labour and a fine of 4,000 francs.

[3] Safe from French law in London, he helped found the Royal Academy of Music in 1821, and became its secretary.

In Naples, Bochsa was appointed director of the opera house Teatro di San Carlo and stayed there for two years.