Sir Robert Napier, 1st Baronet, of Luton Hoo


Sir Robert Napier, 1st Baronet, of Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire, also referred to as Robert Sandy, was an English merchant.

Origins

He was the second son of Alexander Napier of Exeter, Devon, by his wife Anne Birchley, daughter of Edward Birchley of Hertfordshire. Alexander was a son of Sir Alexander Napier of Scotland, and was brother of Sir Archibald Napier. He had left Scotland during the reign of King Henry VIII and settled in the city of Exeter. The Napier family claimed descent from the Scottish Earls of Lennox. Sir Robert's younger brother was Rev. Richard Napier, a noted astrologer and Rector of Linford, Buckinghamshire. The arms of Napier of Luton Hoo were: Argent, a saltire engrailed between four roses gules.

Career

He lived in Bishopsgate Street in the City of London, and was a member of the Grocers' Company and was a Turkey Merchant, and through trade with Turkey amassed a fortune and purchased the estate of Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire. He was knighted in 1611 during the progress from Scotland through England of King James I, who subsequently created him a baronet "of Luton Hoo" on 25 November 1612. He served as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1611. In 1613 he was elected Sheriff of London but declined to serve, for which he was fined 400 marks.

Marriages and children

He married three times: