Henry Melville Napier

Henry Melville Napier

Birth name	Henry Melville Napier
Date of birth	(1854-05-02)2 May 1854
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death	(1940-12-18)18 December 1940
Place of death	Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Notable relative(s)	Ian Napier, son
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Glasgow University RFC West of Scotland () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Glasgow District () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1877-79 Scotland 5 (0)

Henry Melville Napier (02 May 1854 - 18 December 1940) was a Scottish rugby union international who represented Scotland in the 1876–77 Home Nations rugby union matches, 1877–78 Home Nations rugby union matches, 1878–79 Home Nations rugby union matches and 1879–80 Home Nations rugby union matches. Napier was also a noted engineer and shipbuilder.

Rugby union

Napier played as a forward for Glasgow University RFC and West of Scotland. Although he gained his district cap while with the university, he gained his Scotland caps while with West of Scotland.

He represented Glasgow District against Edinburgh District in the 5 December 1874 match.

Shipbuilding

Napier was an engineer and shipbuilder.

As a founder of Napier and Miller, a shipbuilding firm based first at Yoker, Glasgow - though then part of West Dunbartonshire - in 1898; then moving to Old Kilpatrick, West Dunbartonshire in 1906.

The company built over 120 ships including warships for the British Navy and passenger ships for the USA and Canada. It also assembled RAF BE2 biplanes. The company went bust in 1931 during the Great Depression.

Family

Henry Napier's son Ian Napier was a Scottish World War 1 flying ace.