author
Charles Napier
1786–1860
A hard-driving naval commander with a larger-than-life reputation, he spent around sixty years at sea and fought in conflicts from the Napoleonic era to the Crimean War. His career mixed daring action, political controversy, and a real interest in reform and new naval technology.
2 Audiobooks
The War in Syria, Volume 2 (of 2)
by Charles Napier
The War in Syria, Volume 1 (of 2)
by Charles Napier
About the author
Born near Falkirk, Scotland, on 6 March 1786, Sir Charles John Napier became one of the most colorful officers of the nineteenth-century Royal Navy. He served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812, the Syrian campaign, and the Crimean War, building a reputation for boldness, independence, and plain speaking.
Napier was not only a fighting sailor but also a figure in a navy going through major change. He spent a period commanding the Portuguese Navy during the Liberal Wars, won fame at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1833, and later became known for his interest in steam power, iron ships, and more humane treatment within the service. He also served as a Member of Parliament, which suited his outspoken nature.
In later life, Napier remained famous and controversial in equal measure, especially after leading the British Baltic Fleet during the Crimean War. He died on 6 November 1860. What makes him memorable now is not just the length of his service, but the force of his personality: energetic, argumentative, innovative, and impossible to ignore.