David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Chapter II
Chapter II: David Napier
David Napier was among the first to adopt marine engineering as a distinctive profession, and he was the first in Britain to undertake the development of steam navigation on a large scale. His name, as stated in the History of Merchant Shipping, is "more associated than any other in Great Britain with the early development of the marine engine"; and another authority refers to him as "the greatest pioneer of deep-sea steam navigation." It will be seen from the following pages that the circumstances of Napier's youth brought him into contact with the first beginnings of the steamboat enterprise. As a boy he had visited and examined the famous Charlotte Dundas, giving special heed to the details of her machinery; and one of the responsibilities laid upon him, when he became manager of his father's foundry, was the construction of a boiler for the historic Comet. Following his connection with this pioneer steamer, he was an interested observer of the immediately succeeding experiments by which it was sought to establish steam navigation on the Clyde. His observations led him, ere long, to the conclusion that steam power could be applied more efficiently than had yet been done to the propulsion of vessels, and he foresaw that important and far-reaching results might be expected to follow. His father's death, when he was but twenty-three years of age, left him free to follow his own bent, and decide what his future course was to be; and within two years thereafter he had resolved to construct new premises for himself, and make marine engineering his life-work.
The enterprise and sagacity shown by Napier at this time, as in later stages of his career, were inherited qualities that had been very characteristic of his father, John Napier (1752-1813), a man of distinct ability. John was the eldest child of Robert Napier and Jean Denny, of Dumbarton, several of whose descendants in different branches became prominent in engineering and shipbuilding. He was twice married, David being the second child of the second marriage. His business, which prospered from year to year, included ironfounding, smith-work and light engineering; and he was recognised as not only industrious and public spirited, but possessed of a strongly marked individuality and force of character. He was enrolled a burgess of his native town in 1775, and elected to its Town Council in 1790. In 1800 he became a member of the Incorporation of Hammermen in Glasgow, in 1807 was appointed collector, and was elected to the office of deacon for the year 1809-10.
In the interests of business he found it desirable to remove, in 1802, to Glasgow, his premises there being located in Howard Street. In that year he took part in starting the Philosophical Society of Glasgow, and he was for several years one of its directors. Through business transactions he had become intimately acquainted with Henry Bell, and appears to have been consulted by him regarding his steamboat project. McKenzie, in his Reminiscences, mentions having heard "Mr. John Napier discussing with Henry Bell his original plans, and joking with him about his Comet." It is unlikely that John seriously doubted the feasibility of Bell's scheme, although at that time there were few that believed in it or gave it attention. He agreed at all events to have the boiler made (which John Robertson could not undertake) for the boat that was then in progress; and David being then practical manager of the foundry, it fell to him to carry out this somewhat unfamiliar piece of work.
John Napier's death occurred in July, 1813, one year after the launch of the Comet, so that he had the opportunity, and no doubt the satisfaction, of seeing his friend's first steamboat successfully at work. He may possibly have seen also the one or two boats that immediately followed, early in 1813; but he could not anticipate the amazing developments that were so soon to follow, nor the remarkable influence that his own son was to exercise in bringing these developments about. David's career in improving the steamboat and its machinery, and in vastly widening the area of steam navigation, extended over the next half-century, twenty-four years of that time being spent in Glasgow, and the remainder in London.
The histories and publications that deal with the events of that period contain numerous references to his inventions and shipping enterprise, but these notices are necessarily fragmentary, and from the lapse of time it would be impossible to frame a properly connected narrative, valuable historically as such a record might be. It has, under these circumstances, been considered desirable that the short autobiographical Sketch reproduced in the following pages should be preserved, as being a statement at first hand of some interesting features and incidents of Mr. Napier's professional life not appearing elsewhere. This Sketch, it is understood, was prepared by request of the late Mr. Bourne, who had contemplated the production of a volume on the Rise and Progress of Steam Navigation. The extreme brevity of the document at the same time has suggested the propriety of adding various Notes, which it is hoped may serve to explain or illustrate some of its allusions. The date of Mr. Napier's birth, omitted from the Memoir, appears in the Register of the Parish of Dumbarton, as follows:
"1790. Naiper. David, lawful son to John Naiper and Ann McAlaster, was born 29th October, and baptised 7th November 1790."
"Naiper," it may be observed, was one of the variations of the name in common use at the time here mentioned.
See Also
- David Napier (1790-1869)
- David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Chapter I
- David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Chapter III