William Keppel (general)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

On December 17, 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 secret expedition against Cuba, and directed the storming of Morro Castle. In 1763, he succeeded Albemarle as British governor of Cuba. The island was returned to Spain in July. On May 31, 1765, he was appointed colonel of the 14th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded until 1775.

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

In 1773 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ireland. On October 18, 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.

Preceded by: John Page Lord George Henry Lennox	Member for Chichester with John Page 1767–1768, Thomas Conolly 1768–1780, Thomas Steele 1780–1782 1767–1782	Succeeded by: Thomas Steele Percy Charles Wyndham