William Francis Patrick Napier
| Sir William Napier | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 December 1785 Celbridge, near Dublin |
| Died | 12 February 1860 (aged 74) Clapham, London |
| Buried at | West Norwood Cemetery, West Norwood, London (51°25′59″N 0°05′53″W / 51.43306°N 0.09806°W) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1800–1819 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | |
| Commands held | 43rd Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Peninsular War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
| Other work | Author and historian |
General Sir William Francis Patrick Napier KCB (7 December 1785 – 12 February 1860), Irish soldier in the British Army and military historian. Napier was born at Celbridge, County Dublin, the third son of Colonel George Napier (1751–1804) and his wife, Lady Sarah Lennox (1745-1826).
He became an ensign in the Royal Irish Artillery in 1800, but at once exchanged into the 62nd, 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 at Shorncliffe Army Camp. 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 (Køge), and, his regiment being shortly afterwards sent to Spain, he bore himself nobly through the retreat to Corunna, the hardships of which permanently impaired his health. In 1809 he became aide-de-camp to his cousin the Duke of Richmond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, but joined the 43rd when that regiment was ordered again to Spain. With the light brigade (the 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.
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