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Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier

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Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier
Born(1758-02-23)23 February 1758
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Died1 August 1823(1823-08-01) (aged 65)
Enfield, London, England
Spouse
Maria Clavering
(m. 1784)
Children9, including William
FatherWilliam Napier
RelativesFrancis Napier (grandfather)
Charles Cathart (grandfather)
Military career
ServiceBritish Army
RankMajor
Unit31st Foot
Commands35th Foot
4th Foot
WarsAmerican Revolutionary War

Francis Scott Napier, 8th Lord Napier (23 February 1758 – 1 August 1823) was a British peer and army officer.[1]

Biography

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Napier was born in Ipswich in 1758, the son of William Napier (later 7th Lord Napier) and his wife, Mary, a daughter of Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart.

Inheriting his father's title on 2 January 1775, Napier was earlier commissioned into the 31st Foot in 1774 and was promoted to a lieutenant in 1776. After serving with General Burgoyne in Canada, he fought in the American Revolutionary War with the Convention Army under Burgoyne at the time of their defeat and surrender at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. After release from captivity at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he purchased a captain's commission in the 35th Foot in 1779 and transferred to the 4th Foot in 1784, becoming a major soon afterwards.

From 1788 to 1790, Napier was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and laid the foundation stone of the new buildings of the University of Edinburgh in 1789, for which he was awarded a LLD.

In 1796, 1802 and 1807, he was chosen as a Scottish representative peer and was Lord Lieutenant of Selkirkshire from 1797 until his death in 1823. From 1802 until his death, Napier was, with Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville's help, annually nominated as Lord High Commissioner.

Napier died at his home, Dacre Lodge in Enfield, in 1823 and his title passed to his eldest son, William.

Family

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On 13 April 1784, Napier married Maria Margaret Clavering (c.1756–1821), the daughter of Lt.-Gen. Sir John Clavering, at St George's, Hanover Square. They had five daughters and four sons, including William John (1786–1834), later 9th Lord Napier.

References

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  1. ^ "Napier, Francis, eighth Lord Napier of Merchistoun (1758–1823)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19751. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
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Political offices
Preceded by Lord High Commissioner
1802–1816
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Selkirkshire
1797–1823
Succeeded by
Masonic offices
Preceded by Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Scotland

1788–1790
Succeeded by
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Lord Napier
1775–1823
Succeeded by