General Sir William Francis Patrick Napier KCB ( December 7th 1785 - February 12th 1860 ) Born Celbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland. He was the brother of General Sir Charles James Napier ( previously written about )
He was educated at a grammer school at Celbridge, but spent much of his time on field sports. During the 1798 rising, Colonel Napier armed his five sons and put his house in a state of defence. On the 14th June 1800, at the age of 14, William received his commission as ensign in the Royal Irish Artillery. he was soon transferred to the 62nd regiment and was put on half pay in 1802. He was afterwards made a cornet in the Royal Horse Guards by the influence of his uncle the Duke of Richmond, and for the first time did actual military duty in this regiment, but he soon fell in with Sir John Moore's suggestion that he should exchange into the 52nd, which was about to be trained in the famous camp of Shorncliffe. Through Sir John Moore he soon obtained a company in
He was educated at a grammer school at Celbridge, but spent much of his time on field sports. During the 1798 rising, Colonel Napier armed his five sons and put his house in a state of defence. On the 14th June 1800, at the age of 14, William received his commission as ensign in the Royal Irish Artillery. he was soon transferred to the 62nd regiment and was put on half pay in 1802. He was afterwards made a cornet in the Royal Horse Guards by the influence of his uncle the Duke of Richmond, and for the first time did actual military duty in this regiment, but he soon fell in with Sir John Moore's suggestion that he should exchange into the 52nd, which was about to be trained in the famous camp of Shorncliffe. Through Sir John Moore he soon obtained a company in
the 43rd, joined that regiment at Shorncliffe and became a great favourite with Moore. He served in Denmark and was present at the engagement of Koege ( Koge ) and, his regiment being shortly afterwards sent to Spain. He bore himself nobly through the retreat of Corunna, the hardships of which permanently impaired his health. In 1809 he became aide-de-camp to the Duke of Richmond, Lord Lieutenat of Ireland, but joined the 33rd when that Regiment was ordered again to Spain. With the Light Brigade ( 43rd, 52nd and 95th ) under the command of General Craufurd, he marched to Talavera in the famous forced march which he has described in his ' History ' and had a violent attack of pleurisy on the way.
He however refused to leave Spain, was wounded on the Coa, and was shot near the spine at Cazal Nova. His conduct was so conspicuous during the pursuit of Massena after he left the lines of Torres Vedras that he as well as his brother George was recommended for a brevet majority. He became Brigade Major, was present at Fuentes d'Onoro, but had so bad an attack ague that he was obliged to return to England.
He however refused to leave Spain, was wounded on the Coa, and was shot near the spine at Cazal Nova. His conduct was so conspicuous during the pursuit of Massena after he left the lines of Torres Vedras that he as well as his brother George was recommended for a brevet majority. He became Brigade Major, was present at Fuentes d'Onoro, but had so bad an attack ague that he was obliged to return to England.
The Duke of Wellington was blockading the Fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo with 32,000 troops. The French sent a force of 45,000 troops under Marshal Andre Messena to relive the fortress. Wellington took up a strong position at Fuentes d'Onoro and the French attacked on the 5th May with superior numbers.
The British Army held its ground with the cost of 1,500 casualties. The French suffered higher losses at 2,200 and finally withdrew. This Duke of Wellington quickly siezed Almeida.
The British Army held its ground with the cost of 1,500 casualties. The French suffered higher losses at 2,200 and finally withdrew. This Duke of Wellington quickly siezed Almeida.
In England William married caroline Amelia Fox, daughter of General, The Honourable Henry Fox and niece of the statesman Charles james Fox. They had a number of children, one of whom, Pamela Adelaide Napier, married Philip Miles and had a son, Philip Napier Miles. Three weeks after his marriage William again started for Spain and was present at the storming of Badajoz, where his great friend Colonel McLeod was killed. In the absence of the new Lieutenant-Colonel he took command of the 43rd Regiment ( he was now a substantive Major ) and commanded it at the Battle of Salamanca. After a short stay at home he again joined his regiment at the Pyrenees, and did his greatest military service at the Battle of Nivelle, where with instinctive military insight, he secured the most strongly fortified part od Soult's position, practically without orders. He served with his regiment at the battles of Nive, where he received two wounds, and at Orthes and Toulouse. For his services he was made brevet Lieutenat-Colonel and one of the first C.Bs like his brother Charles he then entered the military college at Farnham. he commanded his regiment in the invasion of France after Waterloo, and remained in France with the army of occupation until 1819, when he retired on half-pay. As it was impossible for him to remain on a Majors half-pay with a wife and family, he was determined to become an artist, and took a house in Sloane Street, where he studied with George Jones, the academician.
The Battle of Nivelle, 10th November 1813
The years he had spent in France he had occupied in improving his general education, for incredible as it seems, the author of the ' History of the War in the Peninsula could not spell or write respectable English till that time. But his career was to be great in literature, not in art. The tendency appeared in an able review of Jomini's works
( Edinburgh Rev. ) in 1821, and in 1823 Mr Bickersteth ( afterwards Lord Langdale ) suggested to him the expediency of writing a history of the Peninsular War.
For some time he did not take kindly to the suggestion, but at last determined to become an author in order to defend the memory of Sir John Moore, and to prevent the glory of his old chief being overshadowed by that of Wellington. The Duke of Wellington himself gave him much assistance, and handed over to him the whole of Joseph Bonaparte's correspondence which had been taken at the Battle of Vittoria; this was all in cipher, but Mrs Napier, with great patience, discovered the keys. Marshal Soult also took an active interest in the work and arranged for the French translation of Mathieu Dumas. In 1828 the first volume of the History appeared. The publisher, John Murray, indeed was disappointed in the sale of the first volume and Napier published the remainder himself. But it was at once seen that the great deeds of the Peninsular War were about to be fitly commemorated. The excitement which followed the appearance of each volume is proved by the innumerable pamphlets issued by those who believed themselves attacked, and by personal altercations with many distinguished officers. But the success of the book was proved still more by the absence of competition than by these bitter controversies. The histories of Southey and Lord Londonderry fell still-born, and Sir George Murray, Wellington's Quartermaster-General, who had been determined to produce the history, gave up the attempt in despair. This success was due to a combination of qualities which have justly secured for Napier, the title of being the greatest military historian England had produced. When in 1840 the last volume of the History was published, his fame not only in England but in France and Germany was safely established.
His life during these years had been chiefly absorbed in his History, but he had warmly sympathized with the movement for political reform which was agitating England. ' The Radicals ' of Bath ( forerunners of Chartism ) and many other cities and towns pressed him to enter Parliament, and Napier was actually invited to become tile military chief of a national guard to obtain reforms by force of arms. He refused the dangerous honour on the grounds that he was in bad health and had a family of eight children. In 1830 he had been promoted to Colonel and in 1842 he was made a Major-General and was appointed Lieutenant Govenor of Guernsey. He he found plenty of occupation in controlling the relations between the soldiers and the inhabitants, and also working out proposals for a complete scheme of reform in the government of the Island.
While he was at Guernsey his brother Charles had conquered Sind, and the attacks made on the policy of that conquest brought William Napier again into the field of literature. In 1845 he published his ' History of the Conquest of Scinde ' and in 1851 the corresponding ' History of the Administration of Scinde ' books which in style and vigour rivalled the great ' History ' but which being written for contoversial purposes, were not likely to maintain enduring popularity. In 1847 he resigned his governorship and in 1848 was made a K.C.B and settled at Scinde House, Clapham Park. In 1851 he was promoted Lieutenat-General. His time was fully occupied defending his brother, in revising the numerous editions of his History which were being called for, and in writing letters to The Times on every conceivable subject, whether military or literary. His energy is the more astonishing
when it is remembered that he never recovered from the effects of the wound he had received at Cazal Nova, and that he often had to lie on his back for months together.
( Edinburgh Rev. ) in 1821, and in 1823 Mr Bickersteth ( afterwards Lord Langdale ) suggested to him the expediency of writing a history of the Peninsular War.
For some time he did not take kindly to the suggestion, but at last determined to become an author in order to defend the memory of Sir John Moore, and to prevent the glory of his old chief being overshadowed by that of Wellington. The Duke of Wellington himself gave him much assistance, and handed over to him the whole of Joseph Bonaparte's correspondence which had been taken at the Battle of Vittoria; this was all in cipher, but Mrs Napier, with great patience, discovered the keys. Marshal Soult also took an active interest in the work and arranged for the French translation of Mathieu Dumas. In 1828 the first volume of the History appeared. The publisher, John Murray, indeed was disappointed in the sale of the first volume and Napier published the remainder himself. But it was at once seen that the great deeds of the Peninsular War were about to be fitly commemorated. The excitement which followed the appearance of each volume is proved by the innumerable pamphlets issued by those who believed themselves attacked, and by personal altercations with many distinguished officers. But the success of the book was proved still more by the absence of competition than by these bitter controversies. The histories of Southey and Lord Londonderry fell still-born, and Sir George Murray, Wellington's Quartermaster-General, who had been determined to produce the history, gave up the attempt in despair. This success was due to a combination of qualities which have justly secured for Napier, the title of being the greatest military historian England had produced. When in 1840 the last volume of the History was published, his fame not only in England but in France and Germany was safely established.
His life during these years had been chiefly absorbed in his History, but he had warmly sympathized with the movement for political reform which was agitating England. ' The Radicals ' of Bath ( forerunners of Chartism ) and many other cities and towns pressed him to enter Parliament, and Napier was actually invited to become tile military chief of a national guard to obtain reforms by force of arms. He refused the dangerous honour on the grounds that he was in bad health and had a family of eight children. In 1830 he had been promoted to Colonel and in 1842 he was made a Major-General and was appointed Lieutenant Govenor of Guernsey. He he found plenty of occupation in controlling the relations between the soldiers and the inhabitants, and also working out proposals for a complete scheme of reform in the government of the Island.
While he was at Guernsey his brother Charles had conquered Sind, and the attacks made on the policy of that conquest brought William Napier again into the field of literature. In 1845 he published his ' History of the Conquest of Scinde ' and in 1851 the corresponding ' History of the Administration of Scinde ' books which in style and vigour rivalled the great ' History ' but which being written for contoversial purposes, were not likely to maintain enduring popularity. In 1847 he resigned his governorship and in 1848 was made a K.C.B and settled at Scinde House, Clapham Park. In 1851 he was promoted Lieutenat-General. His time was fully occupied defending his brother, in revising the numerous editions of his History which were being called for, and in writing letters to The Times on every conceivable subject, whether military or literary. His energy is the more astonishing
when it is remembered that he never recovered from the effects of the wound he had received at Cazal Nova, and that he often had to lie on his back for months together.
