This article is about the marine engineer. For other people of the same name see David Napier (disambiguation)
David Napier (1790–1869) was a Scottish marine engineer.
Napier began in his father's works at Camlachie and built the boiler for Henry Bell's Comet in 1812. Subsequently he took over the foundry and established a reputation as one of the best builders of marine engines in Scotland. In 1821 Napier moved to Lancefield Quay on the north bank of the Clyde and Camlachie was taken over by his cousin Robert Napier. At Lancefield Napier began to construct complete ships, including in 1827 the Aglaia, one of the world's first iron steam-ships.[1] "Aglaia" in fact had only an iron bottom, and wooden sides above water, to ply on Loch Eck. She was afterwards called the "James Gallacher," and plied on the Clyde. Her dimensions were as follows: Length, 62' 8"; breadth, 13' 0"; depth, 4' 6"; gross tonnage, 49 36/94 tons.[2] The world's first iron steamer was the paddle steamer Aaron Manby of 1821.
In 1839 Napier acquired a shipyard on the River Thames at Millwall, London, which is commemorated in the modern Napier Avenue. The yard was run by his two sons, while Napier himself continued with experiments in improving the steamboat. In 1854 the yard was sold to Messrs J Scott Russell and used for building the Great Eastern.[3]