Journey to the East
The Napiers of Celbridge, Co. Meath
The Napiers came to live in Oakley Park House, Celbridge, in 1788. They had eight children
and two of their sons, William and Charles, became world famous.
They were first cousins of Lord Edward Fitzgerald from Carton House,
Maynooth, who died a rebel in the United Irishmen Rising of 1798.
William Napier: William Napier was horn in 1786. He received at least
some education at the Celbridge Academy and joined the army at the age of
16 years. He fought in the Peninsular wars where the armies of England
and Spain were locked in comb;it with those of Napoleon. William served
in Spain under Moore and Wellington and was decorated on seven occasions.
He was knighted in 1848 and died a general in 1860.
Charles Napier: Charles was born in 1782. He was a lieutenant in the army
at the age of 13 years. Like his brother he served with distinction in
the Peninsular war but it was in the army in India that he was to achieve
everlasting fame. Great areas of India were not then under British rule,
but under the command of Charles Napier the British army gained some
important victories.
Napier outraged his family by returning home from
a long campaign in Greece with two daughters, born of an alliance with a Greek
woman. Now in his sixties, he had made no secret of the fact that he had
accepted command in India only to make enough money to see his daughters
properly married. He had been a superior strategist, always conquering
with a minimum of British losses, and he also proved to be a remarkable pacifier, who
brought a measure of good government to an area that had been periodically robbed
by predatory hill tribes.
Sir Richard Burton
Burton brought Napier much detailed information on infanticide, wife killing and bizarre reality that although Napier had signed the death warrants of several rich convicted murderers, the actual hanged man was usually a poverty-stricken substitute hired to hang in his place. Napier was impressed by Burton's reports and would accept council from him. Burton, for example suggested that Napier continue the practice of killing a murderer by shooting him out of a cannon rather than hanging as a lack of proper burial would mean the Moslem would never reach paradise.
Napier was disturbed by reports of homosexuality amongst the Moslems, and it was indeed practice for boys dressed in women's clothes to accompany Afghan caravans. Certain reports spoke of male brothels in Karachi which were corrupting the troops and Napier asked Burton to investigate. Burton agreed to do this on the "express condition that my report should not be forwarded to the Bombay Government, from whom supporters of the Conqueror's policy could expect scant favour, justice, or mercy."
Burton's report was explicit, finding no less than three bordels with boys and eunuchs in demand. Napier destroyed the brothels pleased that he could put down, as he said, "the infamous beasts". He did not believe Burton participated and put the report in a secret file where it lay for two years. It was discovered by his successor and led to Burton having to leave India.
Subsequently Charles Napier was knighted and became Commander-in-Chief of the army of India.
In July 1846 cholera struck the Sind and 60,000 natives and 400 British troops died. Burton became ill and was removed on a two year sick leave to Ootacamund on the Indian west coast. He returned to the Sind to find that Napier had resigned and returned home with his invalid wife.
Napier died in 1853. His biography was written by Sir William Butler.