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.[1] In the course of the same month he defeated a body of the enemy at Kelbson.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] After co-operating in the memorable attack upon St. Jean d’Acre, he proceeded to take charge of the squadron off Alexandria,[5] 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.
NAPIER. (Captain, 1841.)
Charles George Elers Napier was lost in command of the Avenger steam-frigate, 20 Dec. 1847. He was son of the late Lieutenant Edwards Elers, R.N.; and step-son of Rear-Admiral Sir Chas. Napier, K.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy 7 Dec. 1825; passed his examination in 1831; obtained his first commission 28 Dec. 1832; joined, 26 March, 1834, the North Star 28, Capt. Octavius Vernon Harcourt, fitting at Portsmouth; and, from 4 Oct. following until paid off at the commencement of 1837, was employed in the Mediterranean in the Vernon 50, Capt. John M‘Kerlie. Attaining the rank of Commander 28 June, 1838, be served as such from 30 Oct. 1840 until posted, 1 Nov. 1841, in the Pelican 16, on the East India station. In July, 1842, being at the time in China, he assisted as a volunteer at the storming of Chin-Kiang-Foo.[6] He assumed command, 20 Nov. 1847, of the Avenger steam-frigate, of 650-horse power, and perished, as above, on the Sorelle rocks, in the Mediterranean. Agents – Hallett and Robinson.
NAPIER. (Lieutenant, 1842. f-p., 15; h-p., 1.)
Gerard John Napier was born 2 Nov. 1818. This officer entered the Navy in Sept. 1831; served two years at the Royal Naval College, and nearly five in the West Indies on board the Racer 16, Capt. Jas. Hope; passed his examination 3 Oct. 1838; and, between that period and the date of his promotion, 28 Jan. 1842, was employed at Home and in the Mediterranean in the Excellent gunnery-ship, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings, Vanguard 80, Capt. Sir David Dunn, Britannia 120, flag-ship of Sir John Acworth Ommanney, Powerful 84, Capt. Geo. Mansel, and Lightning steamer, Master-Commander Geo. Henry Karr Bowen. His appointments have since been – 27 Aug. 1842, to the Orestes 18, Capt. Edw. St. Leger Cannon, again in the Mediterranean – 10 Nov. 1846 (soon after the latter vessel had been paid off), as Additional-Lieutenant, to the President 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres at the Cape of Good Hope – and, 26 April, 1847, as Senior, to the Rosamond steam-sloop, of 287-horse power, Capt. John Poote, on the same station, where he is now serving. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
NAPIER. (Captain, 1830. f-p., 15; h-p., 29.)
Henry Edward Napier, born 5 March, 1789, is fifth son of the Hon. Geo. Napier, of Mercheston Hall, N.B., a Colonel in the Army and Comptroller of Army Accounts in Ireland (who died 13 Oct. 1804), by Lady Sarah Lennox, seventh daughter of Charles, second Duke of Richmond; and grandson of Francis, fifth Lord Napier, by his Lordship’s second marriage. He is brother of Lieut.-General Sir Chas. Jas. Napier, G.C.B., the heroic Commander-in-Chief in Scinde; of Major-General Sir Geo. Thos. Napier, K.C.B., Governor and Commander at the Cape of Good Hope; and of Major-General Wm. Fras. Patrick Napier, C.B., Lieut.-Governor of Jersey, and author of the ‘History of the Peninsular War.’ One uncle, Patrick, died a Captain R.N. 15 June, 1801; and another, James John, a Lieutenant R.M., was killed on board the Fox frigate in 1776.
This officer entered the Royal Naval Academy 5 May, 1803, and embarked, 20 Sept. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Spencer 74, Capts. Hon. Robt. Stopford and John Quilliam, in which ship, after visiting the Cape of Good Hope, he enacted a Midshipman’s part in the expedition against Copenhagen, and assisted at the destruction of Fleckeröe Castle, on the coast of Norway. From Dec. 1803
