William Napier (lawyer)
William Napier | |
---|---|
1st Lieutenant-Governor of Labuan | |
In office 1848–1850 | |
Governor | James Brooke |
Preceded by | Newly created |
Succeeded by | John Scott |
Personal details | |
Born | 1804 Scotland |
Died | 1879 (aged 74–75) England |
Spouse |
Maria Frances Vernon
(m. 1844–1879) |
Domestic partner | Unknown Malacca woman (1828–1831) |
Children |
|
Parents |
|
Relatives | David Skene Napier (brother) |
Residence(s) | London, England |
Occupation | lawyer, newspaper editor |
Profession | law |
Known for | First lawyer in Singapore |
Committees | Straits Settlements Association (Chairman) |
Other names | Royal Billy |
William "Royal Billy" Napier (1804–1879), was a Scottish lawyer and newspaper editor who primarily developed his career in
History
At least two of Macvey Napier's sons lived in Singapore in its early days. David Skene Napier, a merchant, was one of the first magistrates appointed by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1823.
Prior to follow in to Singapore after his brother, William Napier had a daughter, Catherine Napier in 1829, by a Eurasian woman from Malacca.
In 1831, Napier arrived in Singapore and was appointed as Singapore's first law agent in 1833.[1] He was also one of the four founders of the Singapore Free Press on 1 October 1835, and edited that weekly newspaper until 1846, when he returned to the United Kingdom for health reasons.
In 1844, he married Maria Frances Vernon, the widow of architect George Coleman and adopted her son, George Vernon Coleman, who would die at sea on board of HMS Maeander in 1848 at age 4. They soon had a daughter in 1846, Maria J Napier.
Napier had an infant son with Maria in 1847,
William Napier had befriended
In 1848, William Napier's daughter, Catherine Napier, met Hugh Low, the Colonial Secretary to Labuan, on the sea-voyage from England to Labuan to establish the new government: they were married, en route, in Singapore.[2] They had a son Hugh "Hugo" Brooke Low in 1849 and a daughter Catherine "Kitty" Elizabeth Low in 1850. The marriage was ended with the death of Catherine Napier from fever in Labuan in 1851.
Brooke summarily dismissed Napier of his position in 1850 for alleged misconduct. Napier remained in Singapore as Attorney.[3] Napier was also a legal adviser to Abu Bakar Ibni Al-Marhum from 1855 to 1857.
Retirement and death
William Napier later retired "from the East" in 1857 and returned to England, his
Napier became the first Chairman of the Straits Settlements Association, set up in London in 1868.[4]
William Napier died in England in 1879.
Legacy
The
Napier is unrelated to, Walter John Napier, the lawyer who founded the law firm Drew and Napier.
References
- ^ "40 Law Society and Legal Firsts Facts". Law Gazette. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ Reece, R.W.H. & Cribb, P.J. A Botanist in Borneo (2002)
- ^ East India Register and Army List, 1855
- ^ Buckley, C.B. An Anecdotal History of Old Times in Singapore