Background
Napier was the son of Ella Louisa (Wilson) and Vice-Admiral Gerard John Napier.
Napier was the son of Ella Louisa (Wilson) and Vice-Admiral Gerard John Napier.
He joined the Royal Navy. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 December 1887, and Commander on 1 January 1889. In April 1902 he was posted to HMY Victoria and Albert.
Promoted to Captain in June 1903, he was appointed in command of the HMY Victoria and Albert later that year and the battleship HMS Bellerophon in 1911.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in November 1913, he was based at the Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth from 1913 and tested the mobilisation of the Home Fleet in June and July 1914. He served in World War I and commanded the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron from December 1914 and then the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron from February 1915, seeing action at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, before taking over the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in July 1917 and taking part in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in November 1917.
He commanded the whole Light Cruiser Force from January 1918 to April 1919. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station in December 1919 but died in office during the following Summer.
He is buried at the Royal Naval Cemetery in Bermuda.
His great-granddaughter is actress and comedian Miranda Hart.