Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier
Encyclopedia
Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier (c. 1576 – 1645) was the 9th Laird Napier of Merchiston. In 1627 he was created Lord Napier
of Merchiston and Baronet of Nova Scotia
.
and Elizabeth Stirling.
In 1619, he married Margaret Graham, who was a daughter of John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose and Lady Margaret Ruthven, and sister of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
. They had four children:
In addition, he was one of the Bearers of the Canopy in the State Procession of 1633. He was raised to Baronet of Nova Scotia on May 2nd 1627 and was created Lord Napier of Merchiston
on May 5th 1627.
against the Covenanter
s with his son, Archibald, the Master of Napier
. Napier's son escaped, but Lord Napier and the rest of his family were imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle
and fined £
10,000. They were transferred to Linlithgow
but Lord Napier's son Archibald managed to organise their escape. Both the Lord Napier and his son joined the Marquess of Montrose (Lord Napier’s brother-in-law) and fought with him at the Battle of Philiphaugh
, though Lord Napier was over 70 years of age. Montrose and his followers lost at Philiphaugh and Montrose escaped to the Highlands with Lord Napier and his son. Lord Napier died at Fincastle, in Perthshire
, in November 1645.
He wrote Memoirs of Archibald, First Lord Napier: Written by Himself as a defense against accusations of financial impropriety which were later judged to be false. The memoirs were later published in Edinburgh
in 1793 by Francis, the 8th Lord Napier
.
Lord Napier
Lord Napier, of Merchistoun, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1627 for Sir Archibald Napier, 1st Baronet. Earlier that year, he already held the Napier Baronetcy, of Merchistoun in the County of Midlothian, created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. The titles remained united...
of Merchiston and Baronet of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Biography
Archibald Napier was the son of John NapierJohn Napier
John Napier of Merchiston – also signed as Neper, Nepair – named Marvellous Merchiston, was a Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer & astrologer, and also the 8th Laird of Merchistoun. He was the son of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston. John Napier is most renowned as the discoverer...
and Elizabeth Stirling.
In 1619, he married Margaret Graham, who was a daughter of John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose and Lady Margaret Ruthven, and sister of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
. They had four children:
- John Napier, who died young.
- Archibald NapierArchibald Napier, 2nd Lord NapierArchibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier was a Scottish peer and the grandson of John Napier of Merchiston.-Biography:Archibald Napier was a nephew of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and supported him in his Royalist endeavors. When Montrose left Scotland for Norway in 1646, Archibald Napier...
, who succeeded his father as Lord Napier. - Margaret Napier, who married Sir George StirlingClan Stirling-Origins of the Clan:The originator of the Clan Stirling is believed to be a man by the name of Thoraldus de Strivelyn vicecomes de Strivelyn who was granted a charter of lands in Cadder by King David I of Scotland in 1147...
of Keir. - Lilias Napier, who died unmarried.
Offices and honors
Throughout his political career he held many offices. Among these were:- Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King James VIJames I of EnglandJames VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. Napier accompanied him to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1603 to be crowned at Westminster AbbeyWestminster AbbeyThe Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. - Treasurer-depute of ScotlandTreasurer-depute of ScotlandThe Treasurer-depute was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland.Originally a deputy to the Treasurer, the Treasurer-depute emerged as a separate Crown appointment by 1614...
from 1622 to 1631. - Lord of SessionSenator of the College of JusticeThe Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
in 1623.
In addition, he was one of the Bearers of the Canopy in the State Procession of 1633. He was raised to Baronet of Nova Scotia on May 2nd 1627 and was created Lord Napier of Merchiston
Lord Napier
Lord Napier, of Merchistoun, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1627 for Sir Archibald Napier, 1st Baronet. Earlier that year, he already held the Napier Baronetcy, of Merchistoun in the County of Midlothian, created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. The titles remained united...
on May 5th 1627.
Royalist
In 1640 he supported King Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
against the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s with his son, Archibald, the Master of Napier
Archibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier
Archibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier was a Scottish peer and the grandson of John Napier of Merchiston.-Biography:Archibald Napier was a nephew of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and supported him in his Royalist endeavors. When Montrose left Scotland for Norway in 1646, Archibald Napier...
. Napier's son escaped, but Lord Napier and the rest of his family were imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
and fined £
Pound (currency)
The pound is a unit of currency in some nations. The term originated in England as the value of a pound of silver.The word pound is the English translation of the Latin word libra, which was the unit of account of the Roman Empire...
10,000. They were transferred to Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
but Lord Napier's son Archibald managed to organise their escape. Both the Lord Napier and his son joined the Marquess of Montrose (Lord Napier’s brother-in-law) and fought with him at the Battle of Philiphaugh
Battle of Philiphaugh
The Battle of Philiphaugh was fought on 13 September 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The Royalist army of the Marquess of Montrose was destroyed by the Covenanter army of Sir David Leslie, restoring the power of the Committee of Estates.-Prelude:When...
, though Lord Napier was over 70 years of age. Montrose and his followers lost at Philiphaugh and Montrose escaped to the Highlands with Lord Napier and his son. Lord Napier died at Fincastle, in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, in November 1645.
He wrote Memoirs of Archibald, First Lord Napier: Written by Himself as a defense against accusations of financial impropriety which were later judged to be false. The memoirs were later published in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1793 by Francis, the 8th Lord Napier
Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier
Francis Scott Napier, 8th Lord Napier was a British peer and army officer.Napier was born in Ipswich in 1758, the son of Hon. William Napier and his wife, the Hon...
.