KEPPEL, AUGUSTUS KEPPEL, VISCOUNT I 786) , British admiral, second son of the 2nd earl of Albermarle, was born on April 25, 1725. He entered the navy, and at the age of 15 went round the world with Anson in the "Centurion." After the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) he was sent on a mission to persuade the dey of Algiers to put down piracy, and succeeded in making a treaty with him. During the Seven Years' War he saw constant service. In 1757 he was a member of the court martial which condemned Admiral Byng, and actively endeavoured to secure his pardon. In 1762 he went with Sir George Pocock in the expedition which took Havana, and secured £25,000 of prize money. He became rear-admiral in Oct. 1762, a member of the Admiralty Board (July 1765—Nov. 1766), and vice-admiral in Oct. 177o. The most debated period of his life belongs to the opening years of the War of American Independence. He was a strong supporter of the Whigs, led by Rockingham and Rich mond, and at that time excluded from power by George III. As M.P. for Windsor (178o), he was a steady opponent of the "King's Friends." When therefore he fought against France (1778) in command of the Western Squadron, he believed that Lord Sandwich, then first lord of the admiralty, would be glad to see his defeat. Unfortunately Sir Hugh Palliser, a member of the
Admiralty board, whom he therefore held partly responsible for the condition of the navy, went to sea with him in a subordinate command. He believed his failure in the battle with the French (July 27, 1778), due in reality partly to his own incapacity, and partly to Palliser's disregard of his orders, to be a deliberate betrayal. He praised Sir Hugh in public, but attacked him in private, and a campaign of calumny was begun in the press which resulted in the trial and acquittal first of Keppel and then of Palliser, for neglect of duty. Keppel was ordered to strike his flag in March 1779. When Lord North's ministry fell in 1782 he became first lord, and was created Viscount Keppel and Baron Elden, but his career in office was not distinguished. He died on Oct. 2, 1786. His portrait was six times painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. The copy which belonged originally to Burke is now in the National Gallery.
See T. Keppel, Life of Keppel