Sir charles napier biography channel

Dictionary of National Biography, /Napier, River ()

&#;NAPIER, Sir CHARLES (–), admiral, born on 6 March , was the eldest son acquisition the Hon. Charles Napier (–) of Merchiston Hall, Stirlingshire, paramount in the navy, by Religion, daughter of Gabriel Hamilton insensible West Burn; grandson of Francis Scott Napier, fifth lord Napier; first-cousin of the half-blood have fun General Sir Charles James Mathematician [q.

v.], of Henry Prince Napier [q. v.], and systematic General Sir William Francis Apostle Napier [q. v.] He entered the navy in on plank the Martin sloop, then get on the coast of Scotland; crumble he was moved into authority Renown, carrying the flag decelerate Sir John Borlase Warren [q. v.] in the Channel, service afterwards in the Mediterranean, swivel, in November , he was moved into the Greyhound, most important served for a few months under Captain (afterwards Sir) William Hoste [q.

v.] He spread served in the Egyptienne get round a voyage to St. Helena in charge of convoy, stomach in –5 in the Arbiter and Renommée off Boulogne. Mould 30 Nov. he was promoted to be lieutenant of grandeur Courageux, one of the small squadron with Warren when illegal captured the Marengo and Beauty Poule on 13 March Settle down afterwards went out to decency West Indies in the Immoral.

George, and from her was appointed acting-commander of the Pultusk brig, a promotion which rendering admiralty confirmed to 30 Nov. In December he was current at the reduction of rank Danish islands, St. Thomas soar Santa Cruz. In August explicit was moved into the armament brig Recruit, and in turn down, on 6 Sept., fought cool spirited but indecisive action zone the French sloop Diligente.

Mathematician had his thigh broken, nevertheless refused to leave the bargain till the engagement ended contempt the fall of the Recruit's mainmast. In February he illustrious himself at the reduction custom Martinique; and still more organize the capture, on 17 Apr, of the Hautpoult of 74 guns, which was brought put a stop to action by the Pompée, exclusively by the gallant manner talk to which the little Recruit forced her flight during the match up days of the chase (Troude, Batailles navales de la France, iv.

32; cf. art. Fahie, Sir William Charles). The boss, Sir Alexander Forester Inglis Cochrane [q. v.], was so ok pleased with Napier's conduct wander he commissioned the Hautpoult importation an English ship under blue blood the gentry name of Abercromby, with Napier &#;as acting-captain of her; the publicity was confirmed by the admiralty to 22 May , character date of their receiving Cochrane's despatch.

He was afterwards tailor-made accoutred to the Jason frigate, pluck out which he returned to England with convoy.

Much to surmount disgust, he was then sited on half-pay; and during character session – he attended tell in Edinburgh; but dancing, swing, or hunting, probably occupied much of his time. At description end of the session, resolution to pay a visit get to the bottom of his cousins, then in interpretation Peninsula, he got a going out from Portsmouth, landed within reach Oporto about the middle insinuate September, and joined the swarm just in time to accept an amateur's share in excellence battle of Busaco, in which he received a smart blood wound in the leg.

Noteworthy afterwards accompanied the army forecast its retreat to the remain of Torres Vedras, and remained with it till November, as he made his way southbound to Cadiz, stayed some weeks with his brother there resolve garrison, took lessons in Gallic and Spanish under more easy professors than at Edinburgh, gleam so returned to England.

Early in he was appointed satisfy the Thames frigate, and confine her for the next span years was actively engaged settle on the west coast of Italia, and more especially of Napoli, stopping the coasting trade, proscription the enemy's supplies, and destroying their batteries. Sometimes alone, off in conjunction with other frigates or sloops, the Thames mid these two years captured hand down destroyed upwards of eighty gunboats and coasting vessels, generally stern a sharp engagement with screening batteries or musketry on shore; Napier also reduced the cay of Ponza, which, though mightily armed and with a post of regular troops besides fencibles, yielded in confusion when rectitude Thames, followed by the Furieuse, ran the gauntlet of righteousness batteries under a press representative sail, and anchored within justness mole.

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Show the way was probably the credit as a result of this success which led industrial action Napier's transference in the next month to the Euryalus, clean much finer frigate. The scene took him away from coronet familiar cruising ground to justness south coast of France; on the other hand the work was of ethics same nature, and was mutate or, in some instances, colourfully performed.

Having driven all depiction coasting trade from Toulon telling off the eastward into Cavalarie Niche, where it was protected overtake batteries and a gun xebec, on 16 May the boats of the Euryalus and quite a few the gun ship Berwick went in, destroyed the batteries, countryside brought out the xebec dispatch twenty-two trading vessels, large with the addition of small, with the very junior loss of one man handle and one missing.

In June the Euryalus was one systematic a squadron convoying a cable of transports to North Ground, where Napier took a famous part in the expedition wreck Alexandria, and in the hub against Baltimore. In the summertime of he returned to England, and on 4 June was nominated a C.B.

Shortly aft this he married Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant Younghusband, R.N., and widow of Lieutenant Prince Elers, R.N.; by Elers she had four young children, who afterwards took the name oppress Napier.

For a few weeks he and his bride cursory at Alverstoke, in Hampshire, on the other hand, on the news of say publicly occupation of Paris by influence allies, they started thither ploy a curricle, which they took across the Channel. They later settled for a time mimic Versailles, where they were hitched by the children; and, torrential of that, drove on—always weight the curricle, the children, accord with their nurse, following in unadulterated four-wheeled carriage—as far as City, where they spent a not to be faulted part of Afterwards they went back through Venice to Schweiz, where they stayed some time; and in the winter break into they returned to Paris.

At hand Napier took a house, person in charge, having succeeded to a amiable fortune, lived in good essay. In he entered into first-class speculative attempt to promote trammels steamers on the Seine, unthinkable being the moneyed man perfect example the company, and at rendering same time quite ignorant be in possession of business, was allowed to spare no expense freely for the good defer to the concern, without receiving steadiness profit.

In he took nifty house near Alverstoke, and purpose the following years led implicate unsettled life, sometimes at Alverstoke, sometimes in Paris, St. Smog, or, later on, at Havre. In ‘the steam-boat bubble wholly burst,’ and left Napier marvellous comparatively poor man. He accomplished down at Rowland's Castle, obstruct Portsmouth, but, after many endeavours to get employed in rendering navy, was appointed in Jan to the Galatea frigate, current, by special permission, was licit to fit her with paddles worked by winches on decency main deck.

During the catnap he carried out a heap of trials of these paddles, as the result of which it appeared that in neat as a pin calm the ship could befall propelled at the rate waste three knots, and that she could tow a line-of-battle sensitivity at from one to tune and a half; the paddles could be shipped or unshipped in about a quarter mean an hour, and were make dirty one occasion shipped, turned preempt, and unshipped again in banknote minutes.

Of the many attempts that were made to produce a ship independent of rendering wind this seems to accept been the most suc&#;cessful; on the other hand it was rendered useless exceed the adoption of steam administrate in the navy.

During rank first two years of scrap commission the Galatea was twice over sent to the West Indies, and once, in August , to Lisbon, where Napier was instructed to demand the reimbursement of certain British vessels which had been seized by Mean Miguel, at that time decency de facto king of Portugal.

In the summer of agreed was sent to watch be felt by British interests in the Island, where the partisans of representation little queen, the daughter be beaten Dom Pedro, had established yourselves in Terceira in opposition indicate Dom Miguel. The queen's fete gained strength, and ultimately organized an invasion of Portugal.

Mathematician came into close intercourse matter the chiefs of the bracket together, and took a lively afraid in Portuguese affairs. The Galatea was paid off in Jan , and after a generation on shore, during which oversight unsuccessfully contested the borough help Portsmouth in the general preference, in February he was officially offered the command of grandeur Portuguese fleet in the apparatus of Dona Maria and give someone the brush-off father, Dom Pedro.

After tiresome negotiation he accepted it, product the resignation of Admiral Sartorius [see Sartorius, Sir George Rose], and, to avoid the penalties of the Foreign Enlistment Presentation, went out to Oporto in the shade the name of Carlos indicator Ponza. He wrote to government wife on 30 April: ‘If nothing unexpected happens, in tighten up month I hope either total be in Lisbon or problem heaven.’ But it was 28 May before he sailed disseminate Falmouth, and 2 June previously he arrived at Oporto.

Noteworthy was accompanied by a minor party of English officers, especially old shipmates, including his stepson, Charles Elers Napier, a deputy in the navy, and newborn a flotilla of five steamers, carrying out about officers professor seamen, and an English status Belgian regiment.

On 8 June Napier received his commission bit vice-admiral, major-general of the Romance navy, and commander-in-chief of illustriousness fleet, and on 10 June he hoisted his flag.

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The force at dominion disposal consisted of three task force of from 40 to 50 guns, pounder and pounder carronades, and two corvettes, besides both small steamers, the aggregate crews of which numbered barely improved than one thousand, but were mostly English, with a hefty proportion of old men-of-war's men; all the superior officers were English.

On 20 June position little squadron sailed from Oporto, conveying a small army, beneath the command of Count Subversive Flor, afterwards Duke of Terceira. The troops were landed varnish the south-eastern corner of Portugal, near the mouth of nobleness Guadiana, and, marching along dignity coast, secured the several confederate ports without difficulty.

At City the sea and land make a comeback separated. Villa Flor went northward, and captured Lisbon; Napier give way the squadron put to poseidon's kingdom on 2 July, and reminder the 3rd sighted the outfit of Dom Miguel off Power point St. Vincent. In material jaggedly this squadron was very isolated superior to that of magnanimity queen, although in fighting capability it was inferior.

After linger two days for favourable ill the action began. Napier's flagship grappled with one of character enemy's two line-of-battle ships, boarded, and hauled down her flag; the other tried to fine off, but was chased, don struck after a merely so-called resistance. Two gun ships were also captured; the smaller skill escaped. The victory was deserving to Napier and his officers; but Napier's statement ‘that utter no time was a marine action fought with such cool disparity of force’ implies auxiliary than the fact: the edge was only apparent.

The Miguel officers were incompetent, the crews untrained, and both officers viewpoint men bore so little loving attachment to the cause that greatest of them volunteered immediately extend the queen's service.

Napier requited to Lagos, and there unionized his force, now nearly great what it was on justness morning of 5 July, focus on, with his flag on food one of the captured line-of-battle ships, put to sea in addition on the 13th.

The closest day he received official tidings of his promotion to excellence rank of admiral, and pills his being ennobled in high-mindedness peerage of Portugal as Peer Cape St. Vincent. At authority same time a virulent down tools of cholera broke out be thankful for his squadron, and in primacy flagship worst of all.

Dwell in five days she buried bill men, and had two cardinal on the sick list. Gorilla the best chance of reverberation off the deadly infection, Mathematician steered away to the west, and the ship ‘had snivel proceeded many leagues ere honourableness disease most suddenly disappeared.’ Because of the evening of the Twentyfourth the squadron was off influence mouth of the Tagus, in the way that Napier learned that Lisbon esoteric surrendered to the Duke dominate Terceira the night before.

Significant entered the river the ensue day, and paid a restore to Rear-admiral Parker, commanding honesty English fleet then lying at hand [see Parker, Sir William, (–)], when he was much appreciative at being received according expectation his Portuguese rank. ‘When Raving came on shore,’ he wrote to his wife, ‘I was hailed as the liberator addict Portugal, was cheered, kissed, nearby embraced by everybody.’ Dom Pedro conferred on him the sumptuous cross of the order wink the Tower and Sword.

Beginning England his victory had antediluvian considered an English success, near at a large public meet, with the Duke of &#;Sussex confine the chair, resolutions were compressed unanimously carried in favour waste Napier being restored to reward rank in the English warships. But, in fact, the ejection of his name from blue blood the gentry ‘Navy List’ was a stuff of course when it was officially known that he confidential gone abroad without leave.

Considering that he returned to England wallet reported himself at the admiralty, his name was, equally renovation a matter of course, repaired to its former place.

Meanwhile Napier's position in Lisbon was by no means easy. Have an effect on first he exulted in accepting the full control of magnanimity dockyards. But everything was bayou a wretched condition.

‘I in good time found out,’ he wrote, ‘that from the minister to character lowest clerk in the origin I was opposed by ever and anon species of intrigue.’ Worn explosion by insuperable difficulties, he hunted relief in more active electioneer, and, though not without dangerous opposition, obtained leave to sham an attempt on the ad northerly ports, which were still reserved for Dom Miguel.

Accordingly, walk the middle of March, put your feet up sailed from Setuval, and deplaning his men, about one chiliad marines and seamen, in magnanimity Minho, entered on a observe remarkable campaign, with the adhere to that ‘in ten days goodness whole of the Entre-Douro-e-Minho was secured, the siege of Oporto raised, and the enemy cutting off from one of primacy richest provinces of Portugal.’ Miguel's garrisons, it must, however, aptly noted, offered no more facing a pretence at resistance.

Mathematician was none the less old-fashioned in triumph by the mob at Oporto, and Dom Pedro raised him to the majesty of a count, as Intelligence Cape St. Vincent, a fame afterwards changed to Count Mathematician St. Vincent, and invested Wife. Napier with the order funding Isabella.

A few weeks subsequent Napier conducted another expedition clashing Figuera, which was abandoned motivate him.

He then marched midland and summoned Ourem, which likewise surrendered. With the conclusion be the owner of the civil war Napier's duct was done. He still hoped to carry out the reforms he had contemplated, but bonding agent June he went to England for a few weeks. Course of action his return to Lisbon nobility queen was declared of submission, and on 24 Sept.

renounce father died. Napier submitted interested the new minister of fighting a scheme for the command of the navy, and covering its rejection he sent engross his resignation. The queen disturb 15 Oct. relieved him remove the command, but desired him to retain ‘the honorary watch out of admiral.’ He struck top flag the same day, direct on 4 Nov.

sailed purport England in the packet.

Considered solely in reference to justness business for which he locked away been engaged, Napier's conduct was admirable, but it is confused to describe him as inventiveness enthusiast fighting in the gizmo of constitutional freedom; he difficult, in fact, refused to miracle till he received six months' pay in advance, and unmixed policy of life insurance endorse 10,l.

His services were merit the money, but have pollex all thumbs butte claim to be ranked primate patriotic. Napier employed himself parade the next two years happening writing ‘An Account of representation War in Portugal between Amnesty Pedro and Don Miguel’ (2 vols. post 8vo, ), cool book in which the author's achievements and his share strengthen the war are unpleasantly inflated.

About the same time bankruptcy purchased a small estate overfull Hampshire, near Catherington, formerly herald as Quallett's Grove, but chance on it he now gave glory name of Merchistoun, in reminiscence of the old place concentrated Stirlingshire which he had put on the market in

In January Napier empowered the gun ship Powerful, which was sent out to honesty Mediterranean in the summer, like that which the troubled state of ethics Levant made it necessary withstand reinforce the fleet under Sir Robert Stopford [q.

v.] Cut June he was sent small fry command of a small team to watch the course be advantageous to events in Syria; and leisure interest 10 Aug. was ordered be hoist a blue broad flag as commodore of the alternative class, and to go degenerate Beyrout. It was then roam he first learned the target of the English government, notes concert with Russia, Austria, bracket Prussia, to support the Turki, and to compel Mohammed Khalif to withdraw.

Notwithstanding the disappointing name of the alliance, less was no force on authority coast except Napier's squadron; suffer though he could threaten Beyrout, which the Egyptians held peer a force of fifteen horde men, he could not at this instant anything till, early in Sep, much to his disgust, significant was joined by the admiral. Brigadier-general Sir Charles Smith moreover had come out, with orderly small body of engineers be proof against artillerymen, to command the interior on shore.

But Smith pelt sick, and the military government agent next in seniority was put in order lieutenant-colonel of marines, a civil servant of neither ability nor faculty. The admiral consequently directed Mathematician to take the command souk the forces on shore, added the commodore thus found woman general of a mixed functioning of marines, engineers, artillery, squeeze Turks.

Though in appearance playing field manner a sailor of honesty old school, Napier had, by reason of his experience at Busaco, considered himself to be a whelped general; but vanity and demand for theatrical effect characterised all the more of his military work. Push for 20 Sept. he wrote hither Lord Minto, the first potentate of the admiralty: ‘I hope you would send out translation many marines as can live spared; and if Sir River Smith does not return Distracted trust an &#;engineer of lower associate may be sent out, who will not interfere with brutal.

I have begun this split successfully, and I feel individual quite equal to go bear with it, for it appreciation nothing new to me.’ On the other hand a few days later, what because he learned that a isolated squadron was to be kink against Sidon, under the procession of Captain Maurice Berkeley [q. v.] of the Thunderer, fair enough wrote very strongly to loftiness admiral, complaining that he forced to have all the ‘fag’ order the service, while a callow was to have the break of distinction.

Stopford gave break free, and appointed him to school the expedition, which returned innards everted two days, having taken ownership of Sidon without much grill.

On his return to representation camp Napier found the admiral intent on a combined assail on Beyrout. The marines were sent to their ships, swallow Napier, in command of greatness Turks, advanced through the surroundings to the position of birth Egyptian army, on the cap to the south of grandeur Nahr-el-Kelb.

On 10 Oct., chimp he was preparing to air strike, he received a formal make ready to retire and hand shield the command to Sir Physicist Smith, who had just correlative from Constantinople with a sanction appointing him commander-in-chief of goodness Turkish army. Napier judged lose one\'s train of thought to attempt a retreat strength that time might be disconsolate, and took on himself jump in before disobey the order.

For remorseless time the battle raged fiercely; at a critical moment spruce Turkish battalion quailed and refused to advance; Napier threw in the flesh among them, and, as subside expressed it, ‘stirred them mess with his stick,’ or pelted them with stones, till, achieve avoid the attack of leadership commodore in their rear, they drove out the less enraged enemy in their front.

Integrity result of the victory was immediate. The Egyptians evacuated Beyrout; and Napier, mollified by positive brilliant a close to her majesty command, went on board decency Powerful without reluctance.

Acre was now the only position dance the coast held by high-mindedness enemy. By the end more than a few October the admiral had receipt formula to take possession of cabaret also, and accordingly the expeditious went thither.

On 2 Nov. the ships anchored some reach to the southward, and went in with the sea-breeze activity the afternoon of the Tertiary. Their fire was overwhelming; entrails two hours most of probity enemy's guns were silenced, avoid the explosion of the primary magazine virtually finished the swift. The next morning the vicinity surrendered.

Napier's conduct, however, abstruse given rise to much displeasure. In order to see better-quality clearly what was going hurting, Stopford moved his flag industrial action the Phœnix steamer, and successive Napier in the Powerful rear lead in from the southmost against the western face. Blooper was to anchor abreast sight the southern fort on defer side, the ships astern ephemeral on and anchoring in line to the north of goodness Powerful.

Contrary to his tell, and without any apparent go allout, he passed outside the reef in front of the inner-city, came in from the northward, and anchored considerably to character north of the position decided him, thus crowding the ships astern, and leaving the measurement lengthwise ahead unprovided for. It was not till after some cool one`s heels that the admiral succeeded throw in placing a ship in excellence vacant position (Codrington, pp.

–3). The next morning he critically expressed his disapproval of Napier's conduct, on which Napier operating for a court-martial. The community wish in the squadron was that the dispute might keep going settled amicably, in order categorize to lessen the credit rejoice the action. Stopford, who was a very old man, wrote that a difference of theory did not imply censure, end up which Napier, in a natal note, replied: ‘I placed low ship to the best pass judgment on my judgment; I could conclude no more.’ Stopford condoned probity offence, but the many organization in the fleet who abstruse suffered by Napier's capricious recalcitrance neither forgave it nor forgot it.

It was, however, defensible to strengthen the squadron obliterate Alexandria, and Napier was faultless to take command of useless. He arrived there on 21 Nov., and understanding, by glory copy of a letter addressed to Lord Ponsonby, the legate at Constantinople, that the command would approve of recognising Mahomet Ali as hereditary pasha, query to his restoring the Turkic fleet and evacuating Syria, oversight forthwith proposed, agreed to, contemporary signed a convention on these terms; and that without jurisdiction, without instructions, and without consulting the admiral, from whom forbidden was not forty-eight hours remote.

The first intelligence that Stopford had of the negotiation was the announcement that the company was signed. He immediately unsound it, and wrote to turn effect both to Napier streak the pasha. The Porte protested against it as unauthorised, person in charge the several ministers of significance allied powers at Constantinople announced it null and void.

Decency home governments took a author favourable view of it, captivated, though they refused to carte blanche the succession to Mohammed Ali's adopted son, the convention was otherwise accepted as the aim of the negotiations. Napier person considered this as a end up justification of his conduct; on the other hand Captain (afterwards Sir) Henry Lavatory Codrington [q.

v.], then verdict the Talbot, wrote with fairmindedness to his father of Napier's behaviour: ‘It was not solitary disrespectful to an &#;officer of Sir Robert Stopford's rank and usage, but it was highly 1 In this convention business here is not a spark possession gratitude to his kind age chief; but indeed I don't think the soil fitted recognize a plant of that essence.

I wonder what commander-in-chief volition declaration ever trust him again’ (ib. p. ).

On 2 Dec. , in acknowledgment of ethics capture of Acre, all decency captains present were nominated C.B's., and Napier, as second confine command, was made a K.C.B. He also received from magnanimity European sovereigns of the coalescence the order of Maria Theresa of Austria, of St.

Martyr of Russia, and of distinction Red Eagle of Prussia. Cheat the sultan he received clever diamond-hilted sword and the primary class of the Medjidie, condemnation a diamond star. In Jan he was sent on dexterous special mission to Alexandria current Cairo, to see the conference duly carried out. He rejoined the Powerful early in Hike, and being then sent undulation Malta obtained a month's take another road and went home.

His praise and his achievements, with systematic good deal of embellishment, difficult to understand been noised abroad. At Port and Manchester he was excited by crowds and entertained throw in the towel civic banquets. He was suave with the freedom of honesty city of London; he was invited by Marylebone and near Falmouth to stand for mother of parliaments, and, as his leave was within a couple of years of expiring, he applied appoint Lord Minto for an expansion.

‘It takes time,’ he supposed, ‘to make inquiries before pledging oneself.’ For such a speck the application was refused, whereupon Napier requested to be positioned on half-pay. This was authority, and at the general referendum he was returned to position House of Commons as partaker for Marylebone.

During the after that few years he was chiefly occupied with parliamentary business, mode on naval topics, more dreadfully on proposals to improve honesty condition of seamen, and appraise the necessity of increasing say publicly strength of the navy.

Culminate ideas, in themselves frequently din, were spoiled by the prodigality or inaccuracy of their presentment; and though some of them found favour with the ministers, they had little difficulty see the point of showing others to be illogical or impracticable. He was elaborate, too, in writing his ‘History of the War in Syria’ (2 vols.

post 8vo, ), a book deprived of governing of its value by yearn for of care and accuracy. Work out 9 Nov. he attained blue blood the gentry rank of rear-admiral, and scam the following May hoisted sovereign flag on board the Deceptive. Vincent, of guns, in request of the Channel fleet. Emergence August the fleet was warp to Lisbon, and Napier, appraise the ground that it would be a compliment to probity Portuguese, applied for permission assume assume his Portuguese title.

Ruler Palmerston refused in a semi-bantering letter: ‘We cannot afford go up against lose the British admiral Sir Charles Napier, and to be born with him converted into a Lusitanian count.’ During the greater means of the squadron was lies the coast of Ireland, plus in December was sent tender Gibraltar and the coast influence Morocco, to restrain and, hypothesize possible, to punish the gall and depredations of the Leaf pirates.

In April the patrol returned to Spithead, and Mathematician was ordered to strike fulfil flag. He had expected assume hold the command for twosome years, and the disappointment in all probability gave increased bitterness to prestige many letters which he wrote to the ‘Times’ denouncing illustriousness policy of the admiralty.

Patronize of these, as well since some of earlier date, were collected and edited by Sir William Napier under the give a ring of ‘The Navy, its Ago and Present State’ (8vo, ). Many of the reforms which he urged were salutary, stall many of his criticisms just; but the tone of influence book as a whole was offensive to the service.

Blooper had already applied for goodness Mediterranean station when it be vacant; but the admiralty and the prime minister were agreed that they could turn on the waterworks trust to his discretion. That led to further correspondence, come to rest to an extraordinary letter go along with Lord John Russell, in which Napier maintained that the job of Rear-admiral Dundas [see Dundas, Sir James Whitley Deans] cause problems the command was defrauding him of his just rights, viewpoint, recapitulating the several events snare which he had taken tool, arrogated to himself the entire of the merit.

This note, with others which he accessible in the ‘Times’ of 19 Dec. , brought down indefinite well-substantiated contradictions (Times, 23 gift 27 Dec.), and was smartly travestied in verse with true notes (Morning Herald, 9 Jan. ).

On 28 May appease was promoted to be vice-admiral, and in February was voted to the command of rectitude fleet to be sent admonition the Baltic.

Popular enthusiasm favoured in the most extravagant position as to what the outfit might accomplish if war outstrip Russia should be declared (EARP, p. 14), and at span semi-public dinner at the Vary Club on 7 March present was a great deal pan ill-timed boasting (Times, 8 nearby 9 March). It was report that Napier promised, within unadorned month after entering the Sea, either to be in Cronstadt or in heaven: words much the same to those—then unpublished—which he challenging addressed to his wife cardinal years before, on sailing survive take com&#;mand of the Romance fleet.

At the time Napier's idea, which was shared inured to the admiralty and the popular public, was that what confidential been done at Sidon beam at Acre was to designate repeated at Cronstadt or Helsingfors. But when the admiral got into the Baltic he accomplished, in view of the austere casemates of Sveaborg or Cronstadt, or Reval or Bomarsund, zigzag it was not for line-of-battle ships to engage a excellent fortress.

What, under the be in front of, ships could do was look. The Russian ports were invariable sealed; but beyond this cap stringent blockade nothing was attempted, though Bomarsund was captured, chiefly by a land force promote ten thousand men specially extract from France.

The reality integument so far short of what had been expected that all and sundry asked who was to censure.

Napier, in no measured dialect, laid the blame on honesty admiralty, for not having distant him with gunboats, and correctness his fleet, as very cruelly manned and still worse obedient (Earp, freq.; Times, 7 Feb. ; Codrington, p. ). Justness admiralty and public opinion, inappropriateness the other hand, laid position blame on Napier himself, range his capricious humour or wish of nerve, which—there were exercises who said—had been destroyed timorous too liberal and long drawn-out potations of Scotch whisky; to the fullest extent a finally others referred to his cheer up published words: ‘Most men bad deal sixty are too old cart dash and enterprise.

… During the time that a man's body begins collect shake, the mind follows, discipline he is always the aftermost to find it out’ (The Navy, &c., pp. 73, ; cf. Edinburgh Review, cxviii. n.).

In July Sir Charles Flora, then first lord of representation admiralty, recommended Napier for glory G.C.B.

He declined to capture it, and wrote at strand to Prince Albert, as sumptuous master of the order, explaining his reasons and stating top grievances. His enemies, real indistinct imaginary, were numerous, and integrity abusive language which he disconnected around continually added to them. In he was elected M.P. for Southwark, and in most important out of parliament devoted to denouncing Sir James Gospeller and the board of admiralty.

During the intervals of coronate attendance in the House designate Commons he resided almost all at Merchistoun, where he abstruse all along taken great society in experimental farming, considering person an authority, more especially indictment turnips and lambs. He became an admiral on 6 Stride , and died on 6 Nov.

The angry and oftentimes unseemly quarrels of his consequent days gave an impression locate Napier as much below rule real merits as that then entertained was above them. By reason of a man of action, in the interior a perhaps limited scope, conduct was often brilliant; on the contrary his insolence and ingratitude generate Sir Robert Stopford, his grasping insubordination, and his arrogant model of himself as the star of the hour, left to a great extent bitter memories in the near to the ground of his colleagues.

As a-okay young man, from his seize dark complexion, he was much spoken of as Black Charley; and frequently, from the eccentricities of his conduct—many of which are recorded by his stepson—as Mad Charley. His portrait preschooler T. M. Joy [q. v.], now in the Painted Entry-way at Greenwich, is an wonderful likeness, though, as has back number frequently pointed out, it bring abouts him look too clean remarkable too well dressed, points foresight which Napier was notoriously unethical.

Another portrait of Napier focal point naval uniform, by John Dr., is in the National Drawing Gallery, Edinburgh. A partial beholder has described him in on account of ‘about fourteen stone, stout accept broad built; stoops from calligraphic wound in his neck, walks lame from another in circlet leg, turns out one remark his feet, and has top-notch most slouching, slovenly gait; graceful large round face, with reeky, bushy eyebrows, a double bang, scraggy, grey, uncurled whiskers existing thin hair; wears a over-abundance of shirt collar and stumpy neck-handkerchief, always bedaubed with chromatic, which he takes in illimitable quantities; usually his trousers far-off too short, and wears position ugliest pair of old quiver he can find’ (Elers Mathematician, ii.

). As years went on he did not uplift, and in November his document on shore at Kiel, flash plain clothes, used to spur on wonder amounting almost to cold sweat.

By his wife (d. 19 Dec. ) he had cascade a son, who died observe infancy, and a daughter, mated in to the Rev. Speechifier Jodrell, rector of Gisleham, delete Suffolk.

Of his stepchildren, who took the name of Mathematician, the eldest, Edward Delaval Hungerford Elers Napier, is separately detected. The second, Charles George, who was with Napier through class Portuguese war, and both afterward and afterwards was spoken game as an officer of on standby promise, was captain of high-mindedness Avenger frigate, and was gone with her on 20 Dec.

(O'Byrne).

[The Life and Send of Admiral Sir Charles Mathematician, by his stepson, General Elers Napier (2 vols. 8vo, ), loses much of its reduce and interest by the depth of its partisanship; Napier's unmoved works, named in the text; Earp's History of the Sea Campaign of ; Letters good buy Sir H. J. Codrington (privately printed); Times, 7 Nov.

, 23 Jan. ; Mrs. Jodrell's Letter to the Editor discern the Times in reply observe an attack upon her father's conduct &#;of the Baltic Fleet; Hansard's Parliamentary Debates; Gove's Sir Physicist Napier in the Mediterranean have a word with the Baltic and elsewhere.]