Ensign The Hon George Keppel


George Thomas Keppel was born in Marylebone on 13 June 1799. He was the third and second surviving son of William Keppel, 4th Earl of Albemarle, and his first wife Elizabeth.' In 1851, he succeeded his older brother Augustus as earl. His lifelong friend was Sir Robert Adair.' Keppel spent his childhood at his father's residence Elden Hall and was educated at Westminster School. In 1815, he entered the British Army as an ensign and fought with the 14th Regiment of Foot in the Battle of Waterloo. He was transferred as lieutenant to the 20th Regiment of Foot in 1820 and as captain to the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot in 1825.' Two years later, he became major and lieutenant-colonel in 1841.' Keppel was promoted to colonel in 1854 and to major-general in 1858. He was made lieutenant-general in 1866 and finally general in 1874.

Keppel represented East Norfolk in the House of Commons as Liberal MP from 1832 for three years.' He stood unsuccessfully for King's Lynn in 1837 and for Lymington in 1841, however he sat for King's Lynn eventually from 1847 to 1849, before succeeding his brother to become the 6th Earl of Albermarle.

From 1820, He was Equerry to Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. In 1838 he was appointed High Sheriff of Leitrim. He served as Groom-in-Waiting between 1838 and 1841 and was Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Lord John Russell between 1846 and 1847. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk from 1859 and was Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS) as well as the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).

On 4 August 1831, he married Susan Trotter, daughter of Sir Coutts Trotter, 1st Baronet in Willesden. They had four daughters and one son. Keppel died on 21 Feb 1891, aged 91, in Portman Square in London and was buried in Quidenham. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son William, a great-great-grandfather of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.'


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