Lieut. General William C.E. Napier: Papers

These are mainly of a family and personal financial nature but including some concerning army and related affairs. The early papers contain a series of letters of 1838-1839 from Sir George Napier to his sister, Emily Lady Bunbury, and further letters from him in 1840 and 1844. The later papers are largely taken up with General W. C. E. Napier's financial problems, partly arising from the debts incurred by his only son Charles.

The papers also contain letters from the Duke of Wellington, Sir Bartle Frere, General Sir Evelyn Wood and many members of the Napier family.

Topics

Debt

Personal and family papers

Lieut. General William Charles Emilius Napier was the son of General Sir George Thomas Napier, governor of the Cape of Good Hope from 1837-1843. He married in 1845 his cousin Emily, daughter of General Sir Charles Napier

General Napier's long career spanned two-thirds of the 19th century. After early service in Natal and on the Indus campaign of 1845, he became commandant of the Staff College in 1861. Other posts included the director-generalship of the Military Council of Education, governorship of Sandhurst and colonelcy of two regiments, The Buffs and the King's Own Borderers. After retirement in 1885 he served as a Hampshire JP.