Richard Napier

Sir Richard Napier (1607–1676), physician, the second son of Sir Robert Napier, was born in London. He was enrolled at Gray's Inn in 1622 before entering Wadham College, Oxford, as a fellow-commoner in 1624. He graduated BA on 4 December 1624 and a year later was created MA by virtue of letters of the chancellor, which described him as a kinsman of the duchess of Richmond. This kinship was somewhat remote, depending on the descent of the duchess's husband from the Stuarts, earls of Lennox. Richard Napier was elected a fellow of All Souls, Oxford, in 1627 and proceeded BCL in July 1630. He had already been treating some of his uncle's patients at Great Linford before obtaining from John Williams, bishop of Lincoln, a licence to practise medicine. At his uncle's death he inherited all his property and manuscripts, and settled at Great Linford, the manor of which his father had purchased for him.

Napier continued to accumulate academic honours; in November 1642 he took the degree of MD at Oxford, he was knighted on 4 July 1647, he was incorporated MD at Cambridge in 1663, and in December 1664 he became an honorary fellow of the College of Physicians in London. He had previously given to the college library in 1652 thirteen finely bound volumes of the Greek commentators on Aristotle. Wood errs in describing him as an early member of the Royal Society, probably having confused him with William Napier, who was a member. Richard Napier married, first, Ann, youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Tyringham. Their eldest son, Robert (d. 1670), graduated MD at Padua. Thomas (b. 1646), the eldest son of Napier's second marriage (in 1645, to Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Vyner, later lord mayor of London), inherited Linford and his father's medical books, papers, and correspondence.

On his way to visit Sir John Lenthall at Bessels Leigh, near Abingdon, Berkshire, in January 1676, Sir Richard rested at an inn where, according to Aubrey, on entering his chamber he saw a dead man lying upon the bed, whom on closer inspection he recognized as himself. He died shortly after his arrival at Lenthall's house on 17 January 1676 and was buried at Great Linford church. In 1769 Thomas Napier sold the estate, making over Sir Richard's manuscripts to Elias Ashmole. They are now in the Bodleian Library.

Source: http://www.oxforddnb.com/public/dnb/19763.html