Quick Facts
Biography
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. In 1763, he succeeded Albemarle as British Governor of Cuba. The island was returned to Spain in July 1763. On 31 May 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.
He was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1773. 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.