Keppel

Keppel, Hon. Augustus, first Viscount, naval officer, was born in 1725. He went round the world in the Centurion with Anson, and in 1744 was made commander, and, later in the same year, captain. He was present at the battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, and assisted in the reduction of Belleisle. In 1762 he became a rear-admiral, and as such served in the West Indies, and in 1765-66 at the Admiralty. In 1770 he attained the rank of vice-admiral, and in 1778 that of admiral; and, in the last-mentioned year, soon after taking command in the Channel, he fought on July 27th an indecisive action with the Comte d'Orvilliers, off Ushant. In consequence of this he was tried by court-martial on charges of misconduct preferred against him by his second in command, Sir Hugh Palliser, but was honourably acquitted. In 1782 he was created Viscount Keppel and First Lord of the Admiralty. He died in 1780.