The New Student's Reference Work/Napier, Charles James

Napier (nāp' yêr), Sir Charles James, a British general, the conqueror of Scinde, was born on Aug. 10, 1782, at London. Being commissioned in his 12th year, he served during the Irish rebellion, and, at the battle (Corunna) in which Sir John Moore died, he was five times wounded and taken prisoner. He served in 1811 in the Peninsula, where he took part at Coa, Busaco—where his jaw was broken and eye injured by a shot—Fuentes d'Oñoro and Badajoz. He also took part in the Anglo-American War of 1812. In 1818 he was made governor of Cephalonia; in 1838 a K. C. B.; and in 1841 was sent to India to command the army of Bombay against the Ameers of Scinde. Here his most remarkable feat was the destruction of the fortification of Emaun Ghur, 1843, followed by the battle of Meanee (Miani), where, with 2,080 English and Sepoys, he defeated 22,000 Baluchs. He died near Portsmouth, Aug. 29, 1853. See the biography by his brother and the short Life by Sir. W. Butler.