Napier, Sir Charles (Count Napier de São
Vicente) (1786–1860) English admiral
Charles Napier was born in his family’s residence of
Merchiston Hall, near Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland, on 6
March 1786, the son of Charles Napier, a naval offi-
cer. The Napiers were a highly successful military fam-
ily, and his cousins included Sir Charles James naPier
and Sir William Patrick Napier. He joined the British
navy in 1800, when he was just 14, rising to the rank of
lieutenant in 1805. He initially saw action in the Medi-
terranean and the West Indies, and was named com-
mander of his own brig, the Pultusk, in 1807. He helped
to capture the French ship Hautpoult and sailed back to
England in 1809. There being no immediate need of his
services, he attended the University of Edinburgh but
was recalled for duty later in the Napoleonic wars and
in the War of 1812 against the United States. Following
that conflict, he spent some time in Europe and invested
heavily in a steamship company that went bankrupt. In
1827, he was named as captain of the Galatea.
In 1831, while still a British naval officer serving
in the Azores, Napier became involved in the struggle of
Princess Maria da Glória (later Queen Maria II) to sup-
press a rebellion against the Portuguese throne. Asked to
take command of her fleet to fight Dom Miguel, a pre-
tender to the throne, Napier destroyed Miguel’s fleet at
Cape St. Vincent (5 July 1833). Consequently, the title
of Conde (count) Napier de São Vicente was bestowed
on him by the Portuguese government. Napier also led
Portuguese forces in the defense of Lisbon (1834).
Napier returned to the service of England in 1836,
receiving command of the ship Powerful. In 1840, he
was made second in command in the war against Syria,
seeing action during the fight for the cities of Beirut and
Acre (October–November), for which he was created
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).
Returning to England, he was elected as a member of
Parliament from Marylebone, serving from 1842 to- In the latter year, he was promoted to the rank of
rear admiral and given command of the English Chan-
nel fleet from 1847 to 1849. In 1854, with the outbreak
of the Crimean War against Russia, Napier was named
commander of the Baltic fleet. However, when he was
ordered to attack the Russian base at Kronshtadt, he re-
fused, citing insufficient strength, and was relieved of
command.
Napier returned to England, never again to hold
a naval command. He was elected again to Parliament
from Southwark, serving from February 1855 until his
death near the village of Catherington, in Hampshire,
on 6 November 1860.