A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Napier, Charles

by William Richard O'Byrne

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NAPIER, K.C.B., G.C.T.S., K.M.T., K.S.G., K.R.E. (Rear-Admiral of the Blue. f-p., 20; h-p., 28.)

Sir Charles Napier, born 6 March, 1786, is eldest son of Hon. Chas. Napier, of Merchistoun Hall, co. Stirling, Captain R.N., who died 19 Dec. 1807, by his second wife. Christian, daughter of Gabriel Hamilton, Esq., of Westburn, co. Lanark. He is grandson by a first marriage of Francis, fifth Lord Napier; brother of Thos. Erskine Napier, a Colonel in the Army; and cousin, with the present Capt. Henry Edw. Napier, R.N., of Lord Napier, Captain R.N., who died Chief Commissioner for regulating the trade with China 11 Oct. 1834.

This officer entered the Navy, 1 Nov. 1799, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Martin sloop, Capt. Hon. Matthew St. Clair, employed in the North Sea. Removing in the spring of 1800 to the Renown 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, he accompanied, in the course of that year, the expedition to Ferrol, and proceeded next to the Mediterranean, where, in Nov. 1802, he became Midshipman of the Greyhound 32, Capt. Wm. Hoste. On his return from a visit to St. Helena in the Egyptienne 40, Capt. Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming, he successively joined, in 1804-5, the Mediator and Renommée frigates, commanded, the latter off Boulogne, by Capt. Sir Thos. Livingstone. He was made Lieutenant, 30 Nov. 1805, into the Courageux 74, Capts. Rich. Lee and Jas. Bissett, part of the squadron under Sir J. B. Warren at the capture, 13 March, 1806, of the French 80-gun ship Marengo, bearing the flag of Admiral Linois, and 40-gun frigate Belle Poule; and in March, 1807, being then in the West Indies in the Prince George 98, Capt. Geo. Losack, he was nominated Acting-Commander of the Pultusk brig; to which vessel the Admiralty confirmed him 30 Nov. following. On 17 July, 1808, we find Capt. Napier (he had previously witnessed the reduction of the Danish islands St. Thomas and Ste. Croix) assisting in the boats under the command of Lieut. Jas. Robertson (now Walker) of the Fawn sloop, to whom he had surrendered the conduct of the enterprise, at the cutting-out of a Spanish merchant-vessel lying at the N.E. end of Puerto Rico under the protection of two batteries, the guns in one of which, on the party landing, were spiked and rendered unserviceable. In Aug. of the same year he removed to the Recruit brig of 18 guns; in which vessel, on 6 of the ensuing month, he fought a very smart action with, and in the end put to flight, the Diligente French corvette of 22 guns and 140 men, after having, however, had his mainmast shot away, many of his carronades dismounted, one of his men killed, and himself^[1] and several others wounded. In Feb. 1809 he assisted at the reduction of Martinique, where he won distinction, and considerably shortened the siege, by the manner in which, with only 5 men, he landed, scaled the walls, and, in open day, planted the union-jack on the ramparts of Fort Edward, separated about 100 yards from Fort Bourbon; and in the next April, during Sir Alexander Cochrane’s pursuit of three French ships of the line, which lasted upwards of two days, and terminated in the capture of the d’Haupoult 74, he signalized himself by the proximity he kept to the enemy, although fired at from all their stern-chase guns, and by his efforts in doing all he could to cut away their masts and rigging.^[2] So fully did the Commander-in-Chief appreciate the gallantry displayed by Capt. Napier, that he at once posted him into the prize, an act which the Admiralty sanctioned by a commission dated 22 May, 1809. In the following summer Capt. Napier returned with convoy to England in the Jason frigate, but he did not again go afloat until 1811, in the early part of which year he obtained an appointment to the Thames 32.^[3] On 21 of the ensuing July, uniting with the Cephalus brig, Capt. Augustus Wm. Jas. Clifford, he succeeded, with a degree of gallantry that reflected much honour on him, in silencing the fire of a flotilla of 11 gun-boats, together with a felucca, carrying in the whole 13 guns and 280 men, moored across the harbour of Porto del Infreschi, on the coast of Italy, and also that of a round tower, and of a body of musketry on the adjacent hills; after which the boats of the two ships, under Capt. Clifford, brought out, as well the vessels of war as a convoy of 14 merchantmen and 34 spars, the latter intended for a ship of the line and frigate at Naples.^[4] On 1 Nov. 1811, in command of his own boats and those of the Impérieuse 38, Capt. Napier landed with 250 men belonging to the 62nd Regt., under Major Edw. Dailey, at the back of the harbour of Palinuro, where, setting an animating example, he immediately ascended the heights and assisted in carrying them in a very gallant style, under a heavy fire from the enemy, who had assembled in force to oppose the attack, and who soon after dark endeavoured to regain their position, but were instantly compelled to retire.^[5] The next day, returning on board his ship, he aided in effecting the capture and destruction of 10 gun-boats, of 22 richly-laden feluccas assembled on the beach, and of a battery of 24-pounders protecting them. The coolness, judgment, and intrepidity he displayed throughout the whole of the above affair met, it is scarcely requisite to add, the entire approbation of Sir Edw. Pellew, the Commander-in-Chief. He subsequently, 14 May, 1812, attacked the port of Sapri, where, previously to the capture of 28 vessels laden with oil, he contrived, supported by the Pilot sloop, to enforce the discretionary surrender of a strong battery and tower, mounting 2 32-pounders, with an officer and 38 men, whom, in consideration of their brave defence (having suffered themselves to be battered for two hours within pistol-shot), he allowed to march out with the honours of war.^[6] On 26 Feb. 1813, being in company with the Furieuse 36, and having on board the second battalion of the 10th Regt., under Lieut.-Col. John Pine Coffin, Capt. Napier, in a most masterly manner, and without loss, took possession of the island of Ponza, notwithstanding that in the attempt he was exposed to the fire of four batteries and a tower, mounting 10 24 and 18-pounders, 2 12-pounders, and 2 9-inch mortars.^[7] On his removal, soon afterwards, to the Euryalus 36, we find his judicious arrangements enabling him, with the aid of his boats, to make prize, 16 May, 1813, of La Fortune national xebec, carrying 10 long 9-pounders, 4 swivels, and 95 men, together with upwards of 20 merchant-vessels, lying in Cavalarie road. During the proximate winter he simultaneously drove on shore, in Calvi Bay, the Balleine French store-ship, of 22 guns and 120 men, and compelled a gaberre of 30 guns and 150 men, laden with stores, and a national schooner of the largest class to seek refuge under the land-batteries. After this he proceeded, in company with a squadron, under the orders of Capt. Andrew King, and a fleet of transports, to North America. On his arrival he took part in the brilliant expedition against Alexandria, and rendered such effective service that Capt. Jas. Alex. Gordon, the conducting officer, declared in his despatches “that he owed him more obligations than he had words to express.”^[8] In the subsequent operations against Baltimore, Capt. Napier was sent with a division of boats up the Ferry branch of the Fatapsco river, for the purpose of causing a diversion favourable to the intended assault upon the enemy’s entrenched camp at the opposite side of the city. The object of this mission he fully accomplished. In June, 1815, the Euryalus was paid off; and on 4 of that month her gallant commander was nominated a C.B. He was not, however, again called into activity until 8 Jan. 1829, from which period until the early part of 1832 he was employed on particular service in the Galatea 42. In 1833 he succeeded Admiral Sartorius in the command of Don Pedro’s fleet, and gained a signal victory orer the more numerous and powerful armament of Don Miguel off Cape St. Vincent; an achievement for which he was rewarded with the title of Count Cape St. Vincent, and with the grand cross of the order of the Tower and Sword. On 1 Jan. 1839 Capt. Napier obtained command of the Powerful 84, fitting for the Mediterranean; where, hoisting in 1840 the broad pendant of Commodore, he became second in command, under Admiral Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford, of the force engaged on the coast of Syria, and added afresh to his already well-earned fame. On 10 Sept. in that year he there effected a landing at D’journie, at the head of a body of 1500 Turks and marines; and in this, his first important operation, he displayed such indefatigable zeal and activity as to elicit the particular praise of his Admiral.^[9] In the course of the same month he defeated a body of the enemy at Kelbson.^[10] and on 27, in the execution of a judicious and excellent plan he had previously formed, he bombarded and successfully stormed, with a force of not more than 900 allies and 500 Turks, the strong town of Sidon, protected by a fort and citadel and a line of wall defended by 2700 men, all of whom were made prisoners. On that occasion, at the head of the British marines, he broke into the enemy’s barracks, and then obtained possession of the castle.^[11] On 9 of the following Oct. he had the fortune utterly to rout an Egyptian force located, under Ibrahim Pacha, in a strong position on the mountains near Beyrout. The result of the forward movement which had immediately preceded this success was the surrender of Beyrout itself to the allies; and the effect of the victory the entire disorganization and submission of the army of Soliman Pacha. Thus, within one month from the date of the Commodore’s original debarkation, had the whole nearly of Lebanon been freed from its invaders; and, notwithstanding that the small body of men with which he had at first landed had from time to time decreased to half the number of which it had then consisted, he had contrived to make about 5000 prisoners, and to gain over almost as many deserters.^[12] After co-operating in the memorable attack upon St. Jean d’Acre, he proceeded to take charge of the squadron off Alexandria,^[13] where he landed and concluded a convention with Mehemet Ali. In acknowledgment of the distinguished part he had borne throughout the campaign he was created a K.C.B. 4 Dec. 1840; he was also included in the thanks of Parliament; and was presented, by the Emperors of Austria and Russia and the King of Prussia, with the cross of the order of Maria Theresa of Austria, the cross of the order of St. George of Russia, and the insignia of the second class of the order of the Red Eagle of Prussia. In the spring of 1841 he returned to England; and, on 30 Nov. in that year, he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to her Majesty. He had been awarded, 1 Jan. 1837, the Captains’ Good Service Pension. He attained his present rank 9 Nov. 1846; and since 19 May, 1847, has been employed on particular service, with his flag in the St. Vincent 120.

In 1832 and 1837 Sir Chas. Napier unsuccessfully contested the representation of Portsmouth and Greenwich; but in 1841 he was returned for Marylebone. About the year 1828 he submitted to the Admiralty the model of a ship afterwards placed in the United Service Museum; and in 1846 we find him engaged in constructing the Sidon, a steam-frigate of 560-horse power. Several articles from the pen of Sir Charles have appeared in the pages of the United Service Journal; among which we may notice, as published in 1832, his ‘Observations on the Construction and Qualities of the Vernon and Castor, and Naval Architecture in General;’ together with his ‘Remarks on Steam- Vessels’ and his ‘Remarks on the State of the Navy.’ He is the author, also, of ‘An Account of the War in Portugal between Don Pedro and Don Miguel,’ published in 1836; and of ‘The War in Syria,’ published in 1842. He married Eliza, daughter of ___ Younghusband, Esq., and widow of Edwards Elers, Esq., Lieutenant R.N., by whom he has issue an only daughter. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.

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1. Although his thigh was broken he refused to leave the deck.
2. Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 711.
3. During the interval which elapsed between his leaving the Jason and his appointment to the Thames, Capt. Napier served a campaign with the army in Portugal, as a volunteer, ond was again wounded. He was present at the battle of Busaco.
4. Vide Gaz. 1811, p. 1863.
5. Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 143.
6. Vide Gaz. 1812, p. 1396-7.
7. Vide Gaz. 1813, p. 1146
8. Vide Gaz. 1814, p. 2081. – While in the Potomac the Euryalus, in a tremendous squall, lost her bowsprit and all her topmasts, but in twelve hours was again ready for work.
9. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2225.
10. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2603.
11. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2604.
12. Vide Gaz. 1840, pp. 2610-11.
13. Vide Gaz. 1840, p. 2987.