Keppel, Augustus, Viscount Keppel (1725–1786)

English admiral who became embroiled in a political and military controversy in the late 18th century. A strong Whig supporter, he was named first lord of the Admiralty and created a viscount by the government of Charles Rockingham in 1782.

Keppel was the son of the 2nd Earl of Albemarle. He joined the navy, and was successful in many expeditions, such as the capture of Havana in 1761. But in 1778, after fighting an indecisive action against the French off Ushant, he was charged by his subordinate officer, Sir Hugh Palliser, with neglecting his duty. Although a court-martial cleared his name, he still resigned his commission. There was a strong suspicion that the charges were part of a Tory plot to discredit Keppel, and the Whigs bestowed honours on him to spite their political rivals.