Charles James Napier

Charles James Napier, ( born August 10, 1782 London, † August 29, 1853 in Oakland ) was a British general, commander of the troops of the British East India Trading Company.

Charles Napier was the eldest son of Colonel Hon George Napier, auditors in Ireland, and Lady Sarah Lennox, daughter of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond. His brother was George Thomas Napier. Charles James Napier was born on August 10, 1782 in White Hall, and received his early education from his father in Ireland. In 1794 he joined as an ensign of the 22nd Regiment of Foot in the British Army first, before he had completed his 12th year. His first active military service, he experienced in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and the survey of 1803. 1806, after receiving her own company, he went to Spain. In the battle of Corunna, in which he was wounded five times and was taken prisoner, he commanded the 50th Regiment of Foot.

In May 1813, he took over the command of a brigade, which consisted partly of his own regiment, but also from French prisoners of war. In 1815 he moved with the Allied troops entered Paris.

1823 - 1825 he supported the Greek freedom fighters in their struggle against the foreign rule of the Ottomans, and for an independent Greek Republic. In 1837 he was appointed major general and commander of the troops in the northern counties of England.

In June 1841 Napier took over a command in India, where he in 1843 a campaign for the conquest of Sindh led. In 1849 he was commander of the troops of the British East India Trading Company ( British East India Company ), but did not have time to lead them in the Second Sikh War.

1851 Napier returned to the United Kingdom, where he died in Oakland at Portsmouth in 1853.

The city of Napier in New Zealand is named after him and in Trafalgar Square in London is a statue of Napier made ​​of bronze. In the town of Argostoli on the island of Kefalonia is a park named after him.

Peccavi

Major-General Charles James Napier is said to have 1843 with the conquest of Sindh telegraphed to London a word " peccavi ". What is certain is that the magazine Punch, founded on May 18, 1844 published the following text:

" It is a common idea did the most laconic military despatch ever issued what did sent by Caesar to the Horse Guards at Rome, Containing the three memorable words" Veni, Vidi, Vici " and, Perhaps, until our own day, no like instance of brevity HAS BEEN found. The despatch of Sir CHARLES NAPIER, after the capture of Scinde, to Lord Ellenborough, Both for brevity and thruth, is, HOWEVER, far beyond it. the despatch consisted of one emphatic word - "I Have Scinde " ( sinned ) "

" It is a common idea that the most laconic ever abandoned military despatch which was of Caesar dispatched to the Horse Guards in Rome, which contained the three memorable words Veni, Vidi, Vici and, perhaps, was to be our day no similar example of brevity found. The despatch of Sir Charles Napier, after the conquest of Sindh, to Lord Ellenborough goes to brevity and honesty far beyond this. The telegram was from the emphatic word " peccavi " "I have Sindh " ( sinned ) "

The pun was not only to conquer Sindh but also the fact that Napier had instructions not to conquer Sindh. A possible author of the pun in the satirical magazine Punch is Catherine Winkworth.

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