William Keppel (British Army officer, born 1727)

William Keppel
Born	5 November 1727
Died	March 1782
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Ireland
Battles/wars	Seven Years' War

Lieutenant-General William Keppel (5 November 1727 – March 1782) was a British soldier, the third son of Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle.

Military career

On 17 December 1761 he was appointed colonel of the 56th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded until 1765.

In 1762, he took part (with his brothers the Earl of Albemarle and Hon. Augustus Keppel) in the British expedition against Cuba, and directed the storming of Morro Castle.^[1] In 1763, he succeeded Albemarle as British governor of Cuba. The island was returned to Spain in July 1763.^[2] On 31 May 1765, he was appointed colonel of the 14th Regiment of Foot,^[2] which he commanded until 1775.

From 1767 until his death, he was MP for Chichester.

He was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1773.^[3] On 18 October 1775 he was appointed colonel of the 12th Royal Lancers, which he commanded until his death.

He was Gentleman of the Horse to George III of England and died unmarried.^[3]

References

1. The Capture of Havana, 1762: The Morro Castle and the Boom Defence Before the Attack National Maritime Museum
2. Richard Cannon, Historical Record of the Fifty-Sixth, or the West Essex Regiment of Foot
3. thePeerage.com