Albert Napier
Encyclopedia
Sir Albert Edward Alexander Napier KCB KCVO QC
(4 September 1881 – 18 July 1973) was a British civil servant who served as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department
between 1944 and 1954. The youngest son of Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala
, Albert Napier studied at Eton College
and New College, Oxford
before being called to the Bar by the Inner Temple
in 1909. In 1915 he became Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor
, and in 1919 Assistant Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office.
In 1944 he succeeded Claud Schuster
as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office
and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
. As secretary of the Rushcliffe Committee which produced the report on legal aid and Permanent Secretary of the department tasked with enacting the proposed system, Napier has been described as the "midwife to civil legal aid". Despite this his achievements are consistently overlooked, as he came between two particularly strong and influential Permanent Secretaries, Claud Schuster and Sir George Coldstream
. He retired on 4 June 1954, with Coldstream succeeding him, and died on 18 July 1973.
and his second wife Mary Cecelia Smythe Scott. Although he died when Napier was only eight, the career of Napier's father far overshadowed his own despite academic distinction. After being educated at Eton College
, where he was a King's Scholar
, Napier matriculated to New College, Oxford
on an Exhibition
. There he gained a first-class honours degree, and was elected Eldon Law Scholar in 1906.
, and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple
in 1909. His practice did not flourish, however, and in 1915 he became Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor. In 1916 he became Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms in the House of Lords
, and in 1917 he married Gladys White, the daughter of Sir George Stuart White, with whom he had a daughter and a son, the latter of which was killed during the Second World War.
In 1919 he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office and Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, a position he held until 1944, when he was appointed Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department
and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
. appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 19 October 1922 in the 1922 Dissolution Honours List.
, and was also tasked with enacting the proposed system through his role in the Lord Chancellor's Department. At the same time he established a new Law Reform Commission
, and helped expand the size of the senior courts in England and Wales. Despite his achievements, Napier was consistently overlooked, as he came between two particularly strong and influential Permanent Secretaries, Claud Schuster and Sir George Coldstream
. He was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1945 New Year Honours
, and appointed King's Counsel on 21 May 1947. He retired on 4 June 1954, with Coldstream succeeding him, and was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in that year's Queen's Birthday Honours
. He died on 18 July 1973.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(4 September 1881 – 18 July 1973) was a British civil servant who served as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department
Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office
The Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department was the most senior civil servant in the Lord Chancellor's Department and a senior member of Her Majesty's Civil Service...
between 1944 and 1954. The youngest son of Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala
Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala
Field Marshal Robert Cornelis Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, GCB, GCSI, CIE, FRS was a British soldier.-Early life:...
, Albert Napier studied at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
before being called to the Bar by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1909. In 1915 he became Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, and in 1919 Assistant Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office.
In 1944 he succeeded Claud Schuster
Claud Schuster, 1st Baron Schuster
Claud Schuster, 1st Baron Schuster, GCB, CVO, KC was a British barrister and civil servant noted for his long tenure as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office. Born to a middle-class Mancunian family, Schuster was educated at St. George's School, Ascot and Winchester College before...
as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office
Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office
The Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department was the most senior civil servant in the Lord Chancellor's Department and a senior member of Her Majesty's Civil Service...
and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
In the Government of the United Kingdom, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery is a senior civil servant who is the head of the Crown Office. The Crown Office, a section of the Ministry of Justice, has custody of the Great Seal of the Realm, and has certain administrative functions in connection with...
. As secretary of the Rushcliffe Committee which produced the report on legal aid and Permanent Secretary of the department tasked with enacting the proposed system, Napier has been described as the "midwife to civil legal aid". Despite this his achievements are consistently overlooked, as he came between two particularly strong and influential Permanent Secretaries, Claud Schuster and Sir George Coldstream
George Coldstream
Sir George Phillips Coldstream was a British barrister and civil servant who served as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery from 4 June 1954 to 5 April 1968. Born to an upper-middle-class family, Coldstream was educated at Rugby School and...
. He retired on 4 June 1954, with Coldstream succeeding him, and died on 18 July 1973.
Early life and education
Napier was born on 4 September 1881, the youngest son of Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of MagdalaRobert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala
Field Marshal Robert Cornelis Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, GCB, GCSI, CIE, FRS was a British soldier.-Early life:...
and his second wife Mary Cecelia Smythe Scott. Although he died when Napier was only eight, the career of Napier's father far overshadowed his own despite academic distinction. After being educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he was a King's Scholar
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
, Napier matriculated to New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
on an Exhibition
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
. There he gained a first-class honours degree, and was elected Eldon Law Scholar in 1906.
Early career
Napier initially worked towards a career as a barristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1909. His practice did not flourish, however, and in 1915 he became Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor. In 1916 he became Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and in 1917 he married Gladys White, the daughter of Sir George Stuart White, with whom he had a daughter and a son, the latter of which was killed during the Second World War.
In 1919 he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office and Deputy Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, a position he held until 1944, when he was appointed Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department
Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office
The Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department was the most senior civil servant in the Lord Chancellor's Department and a senior member of Her Majesty's Civil Service...
and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
In the Government of the United Kingdom, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery is a senior civil servant who is the head of the Crown Office. The Crown Office, a section of the Ministry of Justice, has custody of the Great Seal of the Realm, and has certain administrative functions in connection with...
. appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 19 October 1922 in the 1922 Dissolution Honours List.
Permanent Secretary
As Permanent Secretary Napier was secretary of the Rushcliffe Committee which produced the report on legal aidLegal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
, and was also tasked with enacting the proposed system through his role in the Lord Chancellor's Department. At the same time he established a new Law Reform Commission
Law Commission (England and Wales)
In England and Wales the Law Commission is an independent body set up by Parliament by the Law Commissions Act 1965 in 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reforms. The organisation is headed by a Chairman and four Law Commissioners...
, and helped expand the size of the senior courts in England and Wales. Despite his achievements, Napier was consistently overlooked, as he came between two particularly strong and influential Permanent Secretaries, Claud Schuster and Sir George Coldstream
George Coldstream
Sir George Phillips Coldstream was a British barrister and civil servant who served as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery from 4 June 1954 to 5 April 1968. Born to an upper-middle-class family, Coldstream was educated at Rugby School and...
. He was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1945 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, and appointed King's Counsel on 21 May 1947. He retired on 4 June 1954, with Coldstream succeeding him, and was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in that year's Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
. He died on 18 July 1973.