Lord Francis Napier was the tenth Lord Napier and a diplomat. He was born in Scotland and during his lifetime, served as the British Minister to the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, and Prussia, as well as the Governor of Madras and Viceroy of India. During his time as the British Minister to the US, a position he held from 1857-1859, the Napier family became close with William Henry Seward and his family. There are multiple letters between Lord Napier and his wife to Henry and Frances, and Fanny Seward notes in her 1859 diary that the families frequently socialized with each other. William Seward stayed with the Napiers at least twice when he visited Europe, once in 1859 when he stayed with them in Scotland at Thirlestane Castle, and once in 1871 at Madras. 

Lord and Lady Napier had four sons, and he died in Florence, Italy in 1859.