NAPIER, Sir Gerard, 6th Bt. (1739-65), of Critchell More, Dorset

In October 1760 Lord Ilchester wrote to Newcastle that he thought Napier, who was just of age, might wish to come in for the vacant seat at Shaftesbury. Ilchester considered it ‘would be imprudent to oppose him as he lives in the neighbourhood, and is just come into such vast circumstances, and as his election is fixed for Bridport next Parliament’.Add. 32913, ff. 16-17. Napier did not stand, but was returned for Bridport at the general election as arranged. In Bute’s list he is classed as a Tory; is not named in Henry Fox’s list of Members favourable to the peace preliminaries, December 1762; but appears in none of the minority lists for this Parliament, and in the autumn of 1763 was classed by Jenkinson as ‘pro’. He seems never to have spoken in the House. He died 25 Jan. 1765.