Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Albemarle
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| Born | 5 June 1702 Whitehall Palace |
| Died | 22 December 1754 (aged 52) Paris |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1717-1748 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-general |
| Unit | Colonel, 29th Foot 1731-1733 Coldstream Guards 1744-1754 |
| Commands held | Governor of Virginia 1737-1754 Commander, Scotland 1746-1747 |
| Battles/wars | War of the Austrian Succession Dettingen Fontenoy Lauffeld Jacobite rising of 1745 Culloden |
| Awards | Lord of the Bedchamber 1722-1751 Knight of the Bath 1725 Knight of the Garter 1750 Groom of the Stole 1751–1754 |
| Relations | Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1725-1786 (son) |
Lieutenant-General William Anne Keppel, the 2nd Earl of Albemarle (born June 5, 1702 – died December 22, 1754) was an important British soldier, diplomat, and a friend of King George II. He held many important jobs in the royal household.
He helped negotiate peace after the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718-1720). Later, he served as the British Ambassador to France from 1748 to 1754.
During the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), he led troops in Flanders. He was then sent to Scotland during the Jacobite rising of 1745. After the Battle of Culloden, he became the top military commander in Scotland.
Even though he had many important roles and inherited a lot of money, he was known for spending too much. He died in 1754, leaving his family with many debts.
Contents
Who Was William Anne Keppel?
William Anne van Keppel was born on June 5, 1702, at Whitehall Palace in London. He was the only son of Arnold, the 1st Earl of Albemarle, and Geertruid van der Duyn. His father was well-liked by both King William III and Queen Anne. Queen Anne was even William Anne's godmother.
In 1722, he married Anne Lennox. She was the daughter of the Duke of Richmond. Anne Lennox was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Caroline. She was said to be a favorite of King George II. The King even gave her money every year after Albemarle passed away.
William and Anne had more than fifteen children. Six of them lived to be adults. These included George, Augustus, William, Frederick, Caroline, and Elizabeth.
Military and Diplomatic Career
Albemarle studied in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands, where his family came from. He returned to England in 1717 and joined the Coldstream Guards. In 1718, he became the Earl of Albemarle after his father died.
In the early 1720s, he worked with the Earl of Cadogan. They met with Dutch officials to discuss the War of the Quadruple Alliance. The Treaty of The Hague was signed in 1720.
Albemarle was good at making powerful friends, just like his father. In 1722, his wedding was held at Cadogan's home. He also became a Lord of the Bedchamber to the future King George II. This job meant he was a trusted friend and close to the king. He held this position until 1751.
In 1737, he was named Governor of Virginia. He kept this title until he died, even though he never visited Virginia. His deputy, Sir William Gooch, handled the daily work. Albemarle County, Virginia was named after him. This area is famous for Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.
Battles and Commands
Between 1713 and 1739, Britain was mostly peaceful. Albemarle was a Colonel in the 29th Regiment of Foot from 1731 to 1733. He then moved to the Royal Horse Guards. In 1743, he led them at the Battle of Dettingen. King George II also fought there, making him the last British monarch to lead troops in battle.
In 1744, Albemarle became Colonel of the Coldstream Guards. He fought under the Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Fontenoy in April 1745.
When the 1745 Jacobite Rising began, Albemarle was sent to Newcastle. He led the government's front line at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. After this victory, he was made Commander-in-Chief, Scotland.
His main goal was to capture Charles Stuart, the leader of the Jacobite rebellion. Despite a large reward, Charles Stuart escaped to France in September. Records found in 2018 show details of the search. They also show Albemarle received money and the Prince's silver traveling canteen after Culloden.
From his headquarters in Edinburgh, Albemarle divided Scotland into four military areas. He worked to bring the Highlands under control. This included building more military roads. He also placed soldiers at key points to enforce new laws, like the Disarming and Dress Acts of 1746.
In February 1747, he left his command in Scotland. He rejoined the army in Flanders. He led the British soldiers at the Battle of Lauffeld in July. Even though the French won this battle, his troops' strong discipline helped the Allied army retreat in an orderly way.
Later Years and Legacy
After the War of the Austrian Succession ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, Albemarle was sent to Paris as the British Ambassador. He was very successful there. He hosted many grand events.
He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1750. The next year, he became a Privy Counsellor.
Albemarle died in Paris on December 22, 1754, at age 52. He was buried on February 21, 1755, at Grosvenor Chapel in London. His friend John Huske asked to be buried next to him when he died in 1761.
Albemarle was known for spending a lot of money. He died with many debts. However, his sons had successful careers. For example, his son Augustus Keppel became wealthy from capturing a Spanish ship in 1740.
The writer Nancy Mitford noted that the French admired Albemarle's love of life and his cleverness. She wrote that he once told a woman who admired the stars that he wished he could buy them for her.
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