page_title: Clan Napier
section_title: Castles
hierarchical_section_title: Clan Napier / Castles
caption_attribution_description: English: Merchiston Tower, Napier University John Napier [1550-1617], eighth Laird of Merchiston, was born in Merchiston Tower. He is relatively little known outside mathematical circles, but his work on logarithms is considered by some to be the single greatest advance in the history of mathematics. He also published a small treatise on a simple way to perform multiplication, with what became known as Napier 's 'Rods' or 'Bones'. In an appendix he explained another method of multiplication and division using metal plates, which is the earliest known attempt at a mechanical means of calculation - and which makes him the grandfather of our modern day calculator. Merchiston Tower was built in the middle of the 15th century, either by Andrew Napier, Merchant and Provost of Edinburgh, or by his son, Sir Alexander Napier, Vice-Admiral of Scotland, Controller of the Royal Household of James ll, and twice Provost of Edinburgh, who inherited the estate in 1454. Edinburgh Corporation acquired the Tower in 1935 and it lay almost unused until the idea of incorporating it into a technical college was first raised in 1956, and finally approved in 1958. That college is now Napier University.
context_page_description: Clan Napier is a Lowland Scottish clan.
context_section_description: Kilmahew Castle, Cardross, Dunbartonshire, is the ancestral home of the Napiers of Kilmahew.  It is now a ruin.
  Merchiston Tower, Edinburgh, is the ancestral home of the Napiers of Merchiston.  It is the centre of the Merchiston Campus of Napier University.
  Other castles built or owned by the Napiers include Culcreuch Castle (Fintry, Stirlingshire) and Lauriston Castle (Edinburgh).
caption: Merchiston Tower, historic seat of the chiefs of Clan Napier, in the centre of the campus of Edinburgh Napier University
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