Name William Napier | Died 1925 | |
Education St Peter's College, Auckland | ||
William Joseph Napier (1857 – 28 November 1925) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Auckland, New Zealand (1899–1902).
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Early life
Napier was born in Ireland and arrived in New Zealand when he was five years old. He was educated at St Peter's School, Auckland Grammar School and St John's College, Auckland.
Lawyer
Napier was a lawyer. He was called to the bar in New Zealand in 1883, and in Fiji in 1886. In 1889 he became adviser to Mata'afa Iosefo, a ruler in Samoa. He was counsel to Sir George Grey until his death, and to Te Kooti and Rewi Maniapoto. He also acted for Malietoa Tanumafili I, another traditional ruler of Samoa, as well as the Government of Tonga.
Politician
Napier contested the 1890 election in the City of Auckland electorate. Of seven candidates, he came fifth. Napier was elected to the City of Auckland multi-member electorate in 1899, but was defeated in 1902. In 1901 he was chairman of the statutes revision committee. Napier was a member of the Auckland Harbour Board (1893–1907) and for a time chairman; a founder and president of the Navy League (1893–1907) and the Victoria League in New Zealand and captain for nine years of the Devonport coastguard artillery.
Napier contested the 1908 election in the Waitemata electorate, but was beaten by Leonard Phillips in the second ballot. He then contested the 1911 election in the same electorate and won the first ballot, but was again beaten by Phillips in the second ballot.
Later life
Napier was elected a fellow of the North British Academy of Arts in 1910. Napier died at a private hospital in Auckland on 28 November 1925, and was survived by his wife and two sons. He is buried at Hillsborough Cemetery.