Robert Murray Keith (the younger) facts for kids
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Sir Robert Murray Keith (born September 20, 1730 – died June 22, 1795) was an important British figure. He was a soldier, a diplomat, and a politician. He served in the British Parliament, called the House of Commons, for a few years. He was also a Knight of the Bath (KCB), which is a special honor. He was a Privy Counsellor (PC) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).
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Early Life and Family
Robert Murray Keith was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the oldest son of Robert Murray Keith and his wife, Margaret. His mother was the daughter of Sir William Cunningham.
He went to the High School in Edinburgh. When his great-uncle Robert Murray passed away in 1743, Robert inherited his family's lands. This is when he added "Murray" to his name.
A Career as a Soldier
Robert Murray Keith was meant to be a soldier from a young age. He went to a military school in London. In 1747, he became a cornet, which was a junior officer. He quickly joined a Scottish army group serving in the Netherlands. He stayed with them until 1752.
He returned to England but could not find a job in the British army. So, he traveled to Vienna to visit his father, who was a diplomat there. Robert hoped to find military work.
- In 1755, he rejoined the Scottish group.
- In 1757, he joined the British Army as a captain.
- He became an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to Lord George Sackville.
- He fought in a big battle called the Battle of Minden.
- After the battle, he carried important news to London.
- He met William Pitt the Elder, a very important politician.
- Pitt asked Keith to create new groups of Highland Volunteers.
- These groups later became the 87th Regiment of Foot (Keith's Highlanders).
- Keith became their leader, first as a major, then as a colonel.
- From 1760 to 1762, his regiment fought in Germany.
- After the war, his regiment was disbanded, and he took a break. He then settled in London.
Life as a Diplomat
Robert Murray Keith knew German well. His friendships with important people like Pitt helped him become a diplomat. In 1769, he was sent to Saxony as an Envoy-extraordinary. This meant he was a special representative for Britain.
In 1771, he moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, as a minister. The political situation there was difficult. The Queen of Denmark, Caroline Matilda of Great Britain, was the sister of Britain's King George III. She was in danger.
- Without waiting for orders, Keith bravely threatened to attack Copenhagen with British ships.
- He did this to protect the Queen.
- This action scared the Danes, and they let the Queen leave safely.
- King Christian VII of Denmark was very grateful. He made Keith a Knight of the Bath.
- Keith then helped the Queen travel to Hanover before returning to London.
His next big job was as an Envoy-extraordinary to Vienna, Austria. He stayed there for 20 years. This was a challenging role because he often did not receive instructions from London. Relations with Austria were also difficult at times, especially during their war with Turkey.
Later Life and Politics
In 1774, Keith returned home to manage his father's property. His friends in London wanted him to join Parliament. In 1775, he was elected to represent Peeblesshire. He kept this seat until 1780, but he never actually attended Parliament meetings.
His financial situation improved when he became a Colonel of the 10th Regiment of Foot in 1781. The next year, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General. He came home in 1788 and became a Privy Counsellor in 1789. This is a group of advisors to the King.
He then went back to Vienna. His final duties included attending the Congress of Sistovo. This meeting helped end the war between Austria and Turkey.
In 1786, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group that promotes learning and science.
Keith's daughter, Amelia Gillespie Smyth, was born in Vienna in 1788. She later became a writer.
He retired in 1792 and settled in Hammersmith, England. He passed away suddenly three years later.
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Robert Murray Keith
