Was the son of John Macvey, Kirkintilloch, by a natural daughter of Napier of Craigbarnet, and was born in 1777.

He received a liberal education for the profession of the law, and passed as W.S. in Edinburgh in 1799. His disposition, however, was too sensitive and retiring for that profession, and he gradually became more occupied in literature, in which his talents ere long became conspicuous. When Lord Jeffrey retired from the editorship of the well-known “Edinburgh Review” magazine, Napier was appointed his successor, and it is allowed that the high character of the journal was in his hands fully maintained.

When the seventh edition of the “Encyclopaedia Britannica” was projected, Mr. Napier was asked to become its editor, and accepted the office. He wrote numerous articles for it himself, and also secured the co-operation of the best writers and scientific men of the day; and the publication is admitted to have been highly creditable to its editor. Mr. Napier died in Edinburgh, nth February, 1847, aged seventy.