Field Marshal The Right Honourable The Lord Napier of Magdala GCB, GCSI, FRS |
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Governor of Gibraltar | |
In office 23 June 1876 – 3 January 1883 |
|
Monarch | Victoria |
Prime Minister |
Benjamin Disraeli William Ewart Gladstone |
Preceded by | Sir William Williams |
Succeeded by | Sir John Miller Adye |
Acting Viceroy of India | |
In office 21 November 1863 – 2 December 1863 |
|
Monarch | Victoria |
Prime Minister | The Viscount Palmerston |
Preceded by | The Earl of Elgin |
Succeeded by | Sir William Denison As Acting Viceroy |
Personal details | |
Born |
Ceylon |
6 December 1810
Died | 14 January 1890 London, England |
(aged 79)
Alma mater | Addiscombe Military Seminary |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Indian Army |
Years of service | 1828–1890 |
Rank | Field Marshal |
Commands |
Bombay Army Commander-in-Chief, India |
Battles/wars |
First Anglo-Sikh War Second Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny Second Opium War Expedition to Abyssinia |
Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India |
Field Marshal Robert Cornelius Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala GCB, GCSI, FRS (6 December 1810 – 14 January 1890) was an Indian Army officer. He fought in the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Second Anglo-Sikh War before seeing action as chief engineer during the second relief of Lucknow in March 1858 during the Indian Mutiny. He also served in the Second Opium War as commander of the 2nd division of the expeditionary force which took part in the Battle of Taku Forts in August 1860, the entry to Peking in September 1860 and the destruction of the Old Summer Palace in October 1860. He subsequently led the punitive expedition to Abyssinia July 1867, defeating the Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia with minimal loss of life among his own forces and rescuing the hostages of Tewodros.