NAPIER, na'pi-er, SIR Charles, British naval commander, cousin of Sir Charles James and Sir William Napier (q.v.) : b. Merchiston Hall, Stirlingshire, 6 March 1786; d. Merchis ton Hall, Hampshire, 6 Nov. 1860. At 13 he entered the navy as a volunteer and in 1805 was promoted lieutenant. In 1807 he became commander, and from the gallantry he dis played in the pursuit of three French line-of battle ships in 1809 was shortly after made post-captain. He was then put on halfpay and joined the British army in Portugal where he took part in the battle of Busaco. In 1814 he was dispatched to the United States, and led an expedition against Baltimore. In 1827 he received the command of the Galatea, in which he was employed on the coast of Portugal and the Azores. Becoming acquainted with the Duke of Terceira and other Constitutionalists, he accepted the command of their fleet, and by his defeat of the Miguelites in a naval engage ment effected the relief of Oporto and the es tablishment of Donna Maria on the throne. For his services the Portuguese government cre ated him Count Cape Saint Vincent and nomi nated him admiral-in-chief. He soon returned to England and in 1839 was ordered to the Mediterranean, where, upon the outbreak of the war between Mehemet Ali and the Porte, and the co-operation of Britain with Russia and Austria on behalf of the latter power, he performed some of his most gallant exploits, including the storming of Sidon and the cap ture of Acre. Having blockaded Alexandria,
he concluded on his own responsibility a con vention with Mehemet Ali, by which the latter and his family were guaranteed in the heredi tary sovereignty of Egypt on resigning all claim to Syria. In 1841 he was elected mem ber of Parliament for Marylebone, and proved himself a warm advocate of liberal measures and naval reform. In 1847, while in command of the Channel fleet, he compelled the emperor of Morocco to grant compensation for the in juries inflicted by him on British commerce. On the commencement of the Crimean War he was nominated to the command of the Baltic fleet, but in this capacity had few opportunities for striking a decisive blow, which at the time somewhat disappointed his country. Sir Charles Napier was an author as well as a commander and published 'The War in Por tugal' (1836); 'The War in Syria' (1842); 'The Navy, its Past and Present State) (1851). Consult Elers Napier, 'Life and Correspond ence of Admiral Sir Charles Napier' (1862); Williams, H. N., Life and Letters of Ad miral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.) (London 1918).