Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier

Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala (1810-1890), was a British soldier. Born in Ceylon in 1810 he joined Bengal Engineers at the age of 18 and served with distinction throughout the Sikh Wars.

He later served in the North West Frontier District and saw action in Peshawar and Afganistan.

He served during the Indian Mutiny, helping to mop up the final resistance before commanding a division during the war with China.

His achieved his greatest fame as Field Marshal, leading the punative expedition to Abyssinia, in 1867 which rescued several captured British diplomats and roundly defeated the Abyssinian forces. He received a parlimentary pension, was made Grand Commander of the Order of the Bath, a freeman of the City of London and given a peerage, Baron Napier of Magdala.

He later became Commander in Chief of the Indian Army.

Lord Napier died in 1890.