David Napier (marine engineer)

Napier began in his father's works at Camlachie and built the boiler for Henry Bell's Comet in 1812.

This was one of the world's first iron steam-ships,[1] built to ply on Loch Eck as part of a "new route" to Inveraray which opened around 1835.

The route included construction of a Clyde pier at Kilmun, and a road for a steam coach to take passengers to the loch steamer.

On the second occasion, 14 June 1838, nine men were killed and a lengthy inquest saw heavy criticism of Napier's boilers and his conduct after the first accident of 16 March 1838.

[4] His youngest son, Robert D. Napier (1821 – May 1885), was a noted marine engineer with several inventions and research papers to his credit.