William Napier lawyer

William "Royal Billy" Napier (1804–1879) was a Scottish lawyer and newspaper editor who primarily developed his career in Singapore. He served as the first Lieutenant-Governor of Labuan from 1848 to 1850. Napier arrived in Singapore in 1831 and became its first law agent in 1833. He was also one of the four founders of the *Singapore Free Press*, editing it until 1846 when he returned to the UK for health reasons.

In 1844, Napier married Maria Frances Vernon, widow of architect George Coleman, and adopted her son, George Vernon Coleman. The couple had children, including a daughter, Maria J Napier, in 1846, and an infant son, James Brooke Napier, who died at sea in 1848. Napier befriended James Brooke, who appointed him Lieutenant-Governor of Labuan in 1848. During this time, Napier's daughter Catherine married Hugh Low, Colonial Secretary to Labuan, and they had two children.

Napier was dismissed by Brooke in 1850 for alleged misconduct and returned to Singapore as an attorney. He later advised Abu Bakar Ibni Al-Marhum from 1855 to 1857 before retiring to England in 1857. In retirement, Napier became the first Chairman of the Straits Settlements Association in London in 1868.

Napier's legacy includes roads named after him: Napier Road (1853), Tyersall Road (1890), and Tyersall Avenue (1924). His former estate, Tyersall House, was associated with the name Tanglin. Napier died in England in 1879.