Walter John Napier (b. 10 July 1857, Alderly Lodge, Cheshire, England-d. 14 February 1945) was joint founder of the law firm Drew & Napier, and Attorney-General of the Straits Settlements from 1907 to 1909, during which he was responsible for introducing a new Civil Procedure Code. As a lawyer-academic, Napier played a key role in the publication of the Straits Settlements Law Reports in 1893 and was its first editor. In 1898, he published An Introduction to the Study of the Law Administered in the Colony of the Straits Settlements, which addressed the contentious issue of whether English law should take precedence over native law.1 In recognition of his services as Attorney–General and other contributions, Napier was bestowed a knighthood in 1909.2
Early life
Napier was born to the family of George W. Napier. He was educated at Rugby School and later apprenticed with a law firm in Manchester. Napier then broke his contract to study at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he took a first in Law. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1881, and practised as a barrister in Manchester from 1882 to 1888.3
Civic contributions
Napier came to Singapore in 1889. In March of the same year, he and Alfred Henry Drew founded the law firm Drew & Napier. In 1896, Napier was appointed acting Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council, and held the position until 1897. He was reappointed from 1900 to 1907 as a full Unofficial Member. During his term, Napier introduced two bills, namely the Married Women's Property Bill and the Partition Bill, both in 1902, which were later passed as ordinances. On 1 March 1907, he was appointed Attorney-General of the Straits Settlements and served in this position until 31 December 1909. As Attorney-General, Napier was instrumental in spearheading a new Code of Civil Procedure, and in preparing the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1910.4
Napier served as Secretary of the Straits Settlements Association from 1890. In March 1893, he drafted the vital memorandum of the association regarding the issue of military contributions.5 Napier was also a founding member of The Straits Philosophical Society. It was established on 5 March 1893 to engage in critical discussions on philosophy, theology, history, literature, science and art.6
Contributions to law publishing
Napier was the proponent and first editor of the Straits Settlements Law Reports first published in 1893. The journal became the pillar of law reporting in Singapore.7 In 1898, Napier published the highly regarded An Introduction to the Study of the Law Administered in the Colony of the Straits Settlements, which was submitted as his dissertation for a doctorate degree in Civil Law at Oxford University in 1900.8 He also contributed articles and papers about legal subjects regularly to the Straits Chinese Magazine.9
Freemasonry
In 1880, Napier was initiated as a Freemason at the Apollo University Lodge in Oxford. In 1892, he joined the Lodge of St George in Singapore and held various offices, including District Grand Treasurer, District Grand Senior Warden and President of the Board of General Purposes. On 20 February 1903, Napier was installed as District Grand Master of the Eastern Archipelago, a position he held until 1910. He also founded the Napier Lodge in Teluk Anson on 29 November 1909, and became its Patron.10
Knighthood
In honour of his services, Napier was knighted on 9 March 1909, the same year in which he retired. He came out of retirement in 1912 to serve on the Colonial Office Committee on the Land Tenure of West African Colonies and Protectorates.11
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
1. “Napier, Sir Walter John,” Gov. UK, n.d.; Thian Yee Sze, Chong Chin Chin and Sharon Lim, eds., In Session: Supreme Court Singapore: The Building, Her Heritage and Her People (Singapore: Supreme Court, 2002), 58 (Call no. RSING 347.5957035 IN); Lim Kuang Hui, ed., Installation of District Grand Master and Grand Superintendent, May 31, 2003 (Singapore: District of the Eastern Archipelago, United Grand Lodge of England, 2003), 75 (Call no. RSING 366.1095957 INS); Walter Makepeace, Gilbert E. Brooke and Roland St. J. Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, vol. 1 (Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1991), 232. (Call no. RSING 959.57 ONE-[HIS])
2. “Untitled,” Straits Times, 9 November 1909, 6; “Sir W. J. Napier, Kt.” Straits Times, 9 November 1909, 7. (From NewspaperSG)
3. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 231.
4. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 231–33; Thian, Chong and Lim, eds., Her Heritage and Her People, 58.
5. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 232; “Untitled,” Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser, 13 May 1907, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
6. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 301–02.
7. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 232; Thian, Chong and Lim, eds., Her Heritage and Her People, 58.
8. Thian, Chong and Lim, eds., Her Heritage and Her People, 58.
9. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 232.
10. Lim, District Grand Master and Grand Superintendent, 75.
11. Makepeace, Brooke and Braddell, One Hundred Years of Singapore, 231–33; “Untitled.”
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