William Napier, 13th Lord Napier facts for kids

William Francis Cyril James Hamilton Napier (born September 9, 1900 – died August 23, 1954) was a Scottish soldier and a courtier. A courtier is someone who attends a royal court as an advisor or companion. He was known as the 13th Lord Napier and 4th Baron Ettrick. He also held the title of Deputy Lieutenant (DL), which is a local official who helps the Lord-Lieutenant of a county.

William Napier was the oldest son of Francis Napier, who was the 12th Lord Napier. His mother was Hon. Clarice Jessie E. Hamilton. William went to school at Wellington College and then to Sandhurst, a famous military academy. When his father passed away in 1941, William became the new Lord Napier and Ettrick. He also became the chief of the Clan Napier, which is a traditional Scottish family group.

A Career in the Military

William Napier joined the army in 1920. He became a Second Lieutenant in a group called the King's Own Scottish Borderers. This was a Scottish infantry regiment of the British Army. He worked his way up through the ranks. By 1939, he had become a Lieutenant Colonel.

Leading Soldiers and Working for the War Office

From 1939 to 1941, William was the commanding officer of the 6th Battalion of the Scottish Borderers. A battalion is a large group of soldiers. This means he was in charge of many soldiers during this time. Later, from 1943 to 1944, he worked at the War Office. The War Office was a part of the British government that managed the army. He was an assistant adjutant general there, helping with important military plans and operations.

Public Service and Family Life

William Napier was also involved in public life. In 1930, he was chosen to join the Royal Company of Archers. This is a special group that acts as the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland. He also held several political jobs.

Serving the Community

From 1946 to 1948, William was a county councillor for Selkirkshire. This meant he helped make decisions for the local area. He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) and a Justice of the Peace (JP) for Selkirkshire. A Justice of the Peace is a person who can deal with minor legal cases and perform other legal duties.

His Family

In 1928, William Napier married Violet Muir Newson. They had four children together:

• Nigel Napier, 14th Lord Napier (1930–2012)
• Hon. Charles Malcolm Napier (born 1933)
• Hon. John Greville Napier (1939–1988)
• Hon. Hugh Lennox Napier (1943–1996)