Archibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier

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Archibald Napier (c. 1625 – 1660) was the 2nd Lord Napier, and was the grandson of John Napier of Merchiston.

[edit] Family

Archibald Napier was a member of the Napier family of Merchiston, Scotland, and was in fact the grandson of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms.

Around 1642 he married Lady Elizabeth Erskine (d. 1683), the eldest daughter of John Erskine, 19th (or 3rd) Earl of Mar. They had five children:

Archibald (d. 1683), who succeeded as 3rd Lord Napier.
John (d. 1672)
Jean, who married Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock, whose son, Thomas (1669 – 1686), became the fourth Lord Napier.
Margaret (d. 1706), who became Lady Napier, fifth holder of the title in her own right (whose grandson, Francis (1702 – 1773), became the sixth holder of the title as the sixth Lord Napier).
Mary, who died unmarried.

[edit] Royalist

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 accompanied him. When Montrose returned, Napier stayed in Germany and Belgium.

When in 1650 he sought to return to his home in Scotland, he asked permission of King Charles to rejoin his uncle, and this was granted. However, before he could return, Montrose was captured, tried and executed. Lord Napier decided against returning to Scotland.

Due to his unflagging Royalist support, he was notably excepted in the act of grace and pardon by Oliver Cromwell on April 12th 1654. He died at Delfsham in Holland in the beginning of 1660, so did not live to see the Restoration.