BOOKS PUBLISHED 1951 TO 1975
Charles Napier, Friend and Fighter, 1782-1853.
The life of General
Sir Charles Napier, eldest son of Colonel George Napier and Lady Sarah Lennox.
Contains photographs of portraits of Colonel George, Lady Sarah, Charles and his
brother William.
The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club for 1953 (Volume XXVIII).
Mention of a Thomas Napper, paper maker at Sutton Mills. (It is a
correction for an article on paper making in Edinburgh which appeared in the previous
volume, Volume XXVII).
The Chapel of St Mahew, Cardross.
The Chapel of St Mayhew sits on a piece of land known as the
Kirkton of Kilmahew. A
chapel existed on the site before the 14th century. The land on which it stood
came into the possession of the Napiers of Kilmahew in 1357 and the family
maintained the chapel. Duncan Napier, Laird of Kilmahew, rebuilt the chapel in
1467 and it was this building that was restored in 1955. This tiny booklet (20
A6 pages) tells the story of the chapel. It contains a map of the area showing
the position of the chapel in relation to the other medieval churches in the
area and also a ground plan of the chapel.
The Third Statistical Account of Scotland. Volume V, The City of Glasgow..
Contains references to Robert Napier (The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding), his shipbuilding cousin David Napier,
and the company of Napier and Miller. An excellent reference book for Glasgow.
Men and Machines. A History of D. Napier & Son, Engineers, Ltd., 1808-1958.
As the title says, a history of the engineering company founded by David Napier of Dumbarton, cousin of
Robert Napier (The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding) and the other David Napier, the eminent marine engineer. Many photos of members
of the family, engines, cars and aircraft. An excellent list of sources. It also contains an abbreviated family tree for David and his cousins
David and Robert. An essential reference book for anyone researching this subject.
Napier Verse.
William Addison was minister at Ettrick and Buccleuch from 1929 to his death in
1953 and was a well known local poet. This is a companion volume to Ettrick Verse
(see above). This volume is dedicated to the Rt Hon. Francis Nigel Napier (14th) Lord Napier and
(5th) Ettrick, who has written a foreword to the book. The first poem in the book is To the Master of Napier, 5th December 1951, on the coming-of-age of the dedicatee.
The second poem is on the return of the ashes of Francis Horatio Napier from Johannesburg for burial
at Ettrick on 18th January 1950.
A Genealogy of Alexander Napier of Randalstown, County Antrim, Northern
Ireland and New York City, USA.
Includes members of the family resident in Scotland in 1999.
The Vintage Motor Car.
Contains references to Napier motor cars. One picture of a 1919 Napier 40/50 Luxury Tourer.
The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Volume XXXI, The Tower of
Merchiston.
A history and architectural description of the Tower
together with information about its restoration. Contains plans and
reproductions of old prints. This article was written in 1961 as an interim
report, midway through a six-year restoration programme. The Tower became the
centre-piece of the newly created Napier Technical College, which has now become
Napier University.
The Kirk of St. Ternan, Arbuthnott.
This book covers extensively the ecclesiastical, economic, social and educational life of a Mearns parish
and also relates it to the growth of Scotland's life during fifteen centuries. Based on rich local records, it deals with the whole period
from Pictish times to the present day, through the Roman Catholic period, the Reformation and post-Reformation period, the
Episcopal period and the Church of Scotland period. It deals in some detail with the Arbuthnott family and the Montrose and
Jacobite risings. There are three Napiers mentioned, James (perhaps John), George and William. Could be a useful reference if
researching the Napiers of the Mearns.
Robert Napier 1791-1876 Exhibition.
This is a catalogue and descriptive brochure of an exhibition held at the Institution between 15th July
and 4th September 1963.
Veteran and Edwardian Motor Cars.
This book is basically a history of British, Continental and American
motor cars from 1900 to 1914. It has very interesting entries regarding Napier cars and engines,
and gives technical specifications and prices.
The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club for 1966 (Volume XXXII).
Reminiscences of a walk from Tollcross to Morningside, mentioning briefly
the Napier family, Merchiston Tower and the site of the Doocot for Merchiston Tower. Another article
on a Lieutenant-Governor of Edinburgh Castle between 1751 and 1753 mentions a Colonel Napier.
A Late Beginner.
An autobiographical memoir of her childhood which was spent in Egypt.
The 1933 24-litre Napier-Railton.
Descriptive booklet about the Napier-Railton racing car specially designed for the racing driver John Cobb
by Reid Railton, chief engineer of racing car engineers Thomson & Taylor and built round a used 12 cylinder, 24 litre, Napier
Lion aircraft engine. The car was specially designed for long distance races and held world records for distances from 200 miles to
3000 miles, and times from 3 hours to 24 hours. Full technical details of the car are given as well as many photographs.
Napier Family.
This book is good on the genealogy of the family of Ivan Napier up to the date of
publication. However, it does perpetuate the myth, believed by some Napiers in the USA, that their
ancestor Dr Patrick Napier was a grandson of John Napier of Merchiston, inventor of logarithms. It has
very many mistakes and inaccuracies regarding the early history of the Napiers in Scotland.
The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club for 1969 (Volume XXXIII, Part 1).
The restoration of Merchiston Tower was
completed in 1964. This article, by Stuart Harris,supplements the original article (Volume XXXI,
1962), amending and amplifying the original report. Contains further photographs
and a plan.
Wellington. The Years of the Sword.
The first of a two volume biography of Hon. Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington. This volume
covers his youth and his military career up to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The three Napier soldier brothers, Charles James,
George and William, all served under Wellington in the Peninsular War and many references to them are made in this book. Their
father Col. George Napier and mother, Lady Sarah Lennox, are also mentioned
Merchiston Tower, Edinburgh.
A small (A5) leaflet produced by Napier Polytechnic (as it
had become by 1970) describing the Tower plus a brief history of John Napier
(of Logarithms). Contains some monochrome reproductions of views of the exterior
of the Tower, and colour photographs of the interior.
Gold at Wolf's Crag? An Enquiry into the Treasure at Fast Castle.
In July 1594, John Napier of Merchiston, inventor of Logarithms, met
with Robert Logan, Laird of Restalrig, and agreed a contract (a contract of
magic) with him to try to find the treasure believed to be hidden at Faux
Castle (or Fast Castle as it is now known) on the east coast of Scotland,
between Coldingham and St Abb's Head. This involves Crusader gold, the search
for the Holy Grail, Knights Templar, King James VI of Scotland, the Earl of
Gowrie, and many others of that period. The contract still exists and a
photograph of it is contained in the book.
The Sword Dance. Lady Sarah Lennox and the Napiers.
Lady Sarah Lennox was the fourth daughter of the second Duke of
Lennox, and thus a great-grand-daughter of King Charles II. After an eventful youth
and first marriage, she married, as her second husband, Colonel George Napier, the fifth
son of Francis, sixth Lord Napier, and his second wife. They lived in Ireland
and had five sons and three daughters. The five sons rose to eminence in their
chosen fields. Three became generals and fought in the Peninsular War, one
became a Captain in the Royal Navy and also became the first historian of
Medieval Florence, and the fifth became a Fellow of All Souls and a notable
scholar. This is the first book about the Napier family published by Priscilla
Napier, the most prolific writer on the Napier Family. This book tells the story
of Lady Sarah, her marriage to Colonel George ("Donny") and their family.
Contains simplified family trees (no dates) of the Lennox and Napier
families.
A Difficult Country. The Napiers in Scotland.
The second book about the
Napier family published by Priscilla Napier. It is divided into five parts: I -
The Lennox Fountainhead,; II - Merchiston and the Five King Jameses; III -
Logarithms John; IV - Montrose and Two Archies; V - Survivors of the Volcano:
Scotland and England. Also contains simplified family trees (no dates) of the
Royal Family of Scotland and the United Kingdom, and of the Napier
family.
Revolution and the Napier Brothers, 1820 - 1840.
The third book about the Napier family published by Priscilla Napier.
It tells the story of the four Napier brothers, Charles, William, George and Henry,
sons of Col. George Napier and Lady Sarah Lennox, during the times of revolution and
social upheaval in Europe, and especially in England. Contains an early portrait of
Charles plus a family tree of George and Lady Sarah's children and their descendants.
Queen Victoria's Little Wars.
A brief history of all the wars in which the British army was involved during the reign of Queen
Victoria 1837-1900. Many members of the Napier family are mentioned.
Lauriston Castle.
An illustrated guidebook to the castle with colour photographs, plan of
present day house, architectural history, and brief history of the owners
(Napiers c1580 to 1622).
Montrose, Cavalier in Mourning.
A modern biography of Montrose with references to Archibald, first
Lord Napier, and his son. Useful for a modern view of the subject. Contains photographic
reproductions of portraits of the main characters.
The Incumbent.
Pamela Hill is the great-great-grand-daughter of the Rev. Peter Napier, the brother of Robert Napier
of West Shanbdon (The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding). Another Napier descendant in New Zealand claims that although
presented as a novel, the story is in fact based very closely on the life of Peter.
© Charlie Napier,
Morningside, Edinburgh, Scotland.