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He was the second son of Captain the Hon. Charles Napier, RN, and grandson of Francis, fifth Lord Napier . He was born at Merchiston Hall , near Falkirk, on 6 March 1786. He became a midshipman in 1800, and was promoted lieutenant in 1805. He was appointed to Courageux (74), and was present in her at the action in which the squadron under Sir J. B. Warren took the French Marengo (80) and Belle Poule (40), on 13 March 1806 in the West Indies. After returning home with Warren he went back to the West Indies in St George and was appointed acting commander of the Pultusk brig. In August 1808 he was moved into Recruit (18), and in her fought an action with Diligent (18), in which his thigh was broken. In April 1809 he took part in the capture of Hautpoult (74), and was promoted acting post captain. His rank was confirmed, but he was put on half-pay, when he came home with a colivoy. He spent some time at the University of Edinburgh, and then went to Portugal to visit his three cousins, (all colonels and one of whom shared a first name Charles James Napier with him,) in Wellington'sArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington ( 1 May 1769 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman, widely considered one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century. He came from an established family of noblemen his army. In 1811Events February 5 George, Prince of Wales becomes Regent because of the perceived insanity of his father, King George III of the United Kingdom. He is known as the Prince Regent. This is the beginning of the period known as the English Regency. March 1 Eg he served in the Mediterranean, and in 18131813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). Events March 17 Through a newspaper, the Prussian king Frederick William III of Prussia calls for resistance against the Napoleonic occupation April 27 War of 1812: Battle of York on the coast of America and in the expedition up the PotomacThe Potomac River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). The river is approximately 413 statute miles (665 km) long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles (38,000 km²). In terms (see War of 1812).
The first years of his leisure he spent in Italy and in Paris, but speculated so much in a steamboat enterprise that by 1827 he was quite ruined. In that year he was appointed to Galatea (42), and was at the Azores at the start of the Liberal Wars when they were held by the count de Villa Flor for Queen Maria II of Portugal. He so much impressed the constitutional leaders that they begged him to take command of the fleet, which offer he accepted in February 1833. With it he destroyed the Miguelite fleet in the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 5 July 1833, and on the demand of France was struck off the English navy list. Continuing his Portuguese services, he commanded the land forces on the successful defence of Lisbon in 1834, when he was made Grand Commander of the Tower and Sword , and Count Cape St. Vincent in the Peerage of Portugal .