Charles Napier was born on March 6, 1786 near Falkirk, Stirling in Scotland. He became a Midshipman in 1800, serving in the Napoleonic Wars and in the War of 1812 against the United States. In 1831 he was sent to the Azores to assist the supporters of the Portuguese Princess Maria de Glória. He was commander of the Portuguese loyalist navy and destroyed the fleet of Dom Miguel, pretender to the Portuguese throne, off Cape St. Vincent on July 5, 1833. In the next year; he directed the loyalist forces in the defense of Lisbon against the Miguelites. He returned to the Royal Navy in 1836, and was for a time second in command of the Syrian expedition of 1840-44, taking part in the capture of Beirut and Acre (October to November 1840).

From 1847 to 1849 he was commander of the Channel Fleet, and in February 1854 he was appointed to command the Baltic Fleet during the Crimean War. He refused to attack the great Russian naval base at Kronstadt alleging insufficient firepower, and was recalled. He was never again offered a command. Sir Charles Napier died on November 6, 1860 near Catherington in Hampshire, England.