George Thomas Napier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lieutenant-General Sir George Thomas Napier KCB (30 June 178416 September 1855), entered the army in 1800, and served with distinction under Sir John Moore and the Duke Wellington in the Peninsula--and lost his right arm at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, where, as a Major in the 52nd Foot, he led the Light Division's storming party.[1]

He became major-general in 1837, K.C.B. in 1838 and lieutenant-general in 1846. He was governor and Commander-In-Chief of the army in the Cape Colony from 1839 to 1843, during which time the abolition of slavery and the expulsion of the Boers from Natal were the chief events. He was offered, but declined, the chief command in India after Chillianwalla, and also that of the Sardinian army in 1849.

He became full general in 1854. He died at Geneva, Switzerland on 16 September 1855. His autobiography, Passages in the Early Military Life of General Sir GT Napier, was published by his surviving son, General WCE Napier (the author of an important work on outpost duty) in 1885.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Glover, Michael; (1974) The Peninsular War 1807–1814: A Concise Military History, UK: David & Charles, ISBN 0715363875, pp. 180-1
Government offices
Preceded by
Benjamin d'Urban
Governor of the Cape Colony
1838–1844
Succeeded by
Sir Peregrine Maitland

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.