Archibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier
Encyclopedia
Archibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier (c. 1625–1660) was a Scottish peer
and the grandson of John Napier
of Merchiston
.
and supported him in his Royalist
endeavors. When Montrose left Scotland
for Norway
in 1646, Archibald Napier accompanied him. When Montrose returned, Napier stayed in Germany
and Belgium
.
When in 1650 he sought to return to his home in Scotland, he asked permission of King Charles
to rejoin his uncle, and this was granted. However, before he could return, Montrose was captured, tried and executed. Lord Napier decided against returning to Scotland.
Due to his unflagging Royalist support, he was excepted from Cromwell's Act of Grace
on 12 April 1654 and his lands were confiscated by the Commonwealth. He died at Delfsham in Holland in the beginning of 1660, so did not live to see the Restoration
.
of Merchiston
, Scotland
, and was in fact the grandson of John Napier
, the inventor of logarithms.
Around 1642 he married Lady Elizabeth Erskine (d. 1683), the eldest daughter of John Erskine, 19th (or 3rd) Earl of Mar
. They had five children:
Peerage of Scotland
The Peerage of Scotland is the division of the British Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. With that year's Act of Union, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were combined into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a new Peerage of Great Britain was...
and the grandson of John Napier
John Napier
John Napier of Merchiston – also signed as Neper, Nepair – named Marvellous Merchiston, was a Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer & astrologer, and also the 8th Laird of Merchistoun. He was the son of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston. John Napier is most renowned as the discoverer...
of Merchiston
Merchiston
Merchiston is a prosperous, mainly residential area in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The housing is primarily a mixture of large, late Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian villas – several of the latter by Edward Calvert – together with a smaller number of Victorian tenements and...
.
Biography
Archibald Napier was a nephew of James Graham, 1st Marquess of MontroseJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
and supported him in his Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
endeavors. When Montrose left Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1646, Archibald Napier accompanied him. When Montrose returned, Napier stayed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
When in 1650 he sought to return to his home in Scotland, he asked permission of King Charles
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
to rejoin his uncle, and this was granted. However, before he could return, Montrose was captured, tried and executed. Lord Napier decided against returning to Scotland.
Due to his unflagging Royalist support, he was excepted from Cromwell's Act of Grace
Cromwell's Act of Grace
Cromwell's Act of Grace or more formally the Act of Pardon and Grace to the People of Scotland, was proclaimed at the mercat cross in Edinburgh on 5 May 1654...
on 12 April 1654 and his lands were confiscated by the Commonwealth. He died at Delfsham in Holland in the beginning of 1660, so did not live to see the Restoration
English Revolution
"English Revolution" has been used to describe two different events in English history. The first to be so called—by Whig historians—was the Glorious Revolution of 1688, whereby James II was replaced by William III and Mary II as monarch and a constitutional monarchy was established.In the...
.
Family
Archibald Napier was a member of the Napier familyClan Napier
Clan Napier is a Scottish clan originally from lands around Loch Lomond, but with presence in Stirlingshire, Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire.-Origins of the Clan:There is some debate about the origin of the name Napier...
of Merchiston
Merchiston
Merchiston is a prosperous, mainly residential area in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The housing is primarily a mixture of large, late Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian villas – several of the latter by Edward Calvert – together with a smaller number of Victorian tenements and...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and was in fact the grandson of John Napier
John Napier
John Napier of Merchiston – also signed as Neper, Nepair – named Marvellous Merchiston, was a Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer & astrologer, and also the 8th Laird of Merchistoun. He was the son of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston. John Napier is most renowned as the discoverer...
, the inventor of logarithms.
Around 1642 he married Lady Elizabeth Erskine (d. 1683), the eldest daughter of John Erskine, 19th (or 3rd) Earl of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
. They had five children:
- ArchibaldArchibald Napier, 3rd Lord Napier-Family:Archibald Napier was a member of the Napier family of Merchiston, Scotland, and was the great-grandson of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms....
(d. 1683), who succeeded as 3rd Lord Napier. - John (d. 1672)
- Jean, who married Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock, whose son, ThomasThomas Nicolson, 4th Lord NapierThomas Nicholson of Carnock, 4th Lord Napier was a Scottish peer.-Family:Thomas Nicholson of Carnock was the son of Jean Napier Thomas Nicholson of Carnock, 4th Lord Napier (14 January 1669 - 9 June 1688) was a Scottish peer.-Family:Thomas Nicholson of Carnock was the son of Jean Napier Thomas...
(1669 – 1686), became the fourth Lord Napier. - MargaretMargaret Brisbane, 5th Lady Napier-Family:Margaret Brisbane was a member of the Napier family of Merchiston, Scotland, and was the great-granddaughter of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms....
(d. 1706), who became Lady Napier, fifth holder of the title in her own right (whose grandson, FrancisFrancis Napier, 6th Lord Napier-Family:Born Francis Scott, he was the son of Sir William Scott, 2nd Baronet of Thirlestane, and Elizabeth Napier, Mistress of Napier. Upon the death of his maternal grandmother Margaret Brisbane, 5th Lady Napier, he achieved the title Lord Napier and changed his last name to Napier; upon the death...
(1702–1773), became the sixth holder of the title as the sixth Lord Napier). - Mary, who died unmarried.