Augustus Keppel

Augustus Keppel fought an indecisive battle off Ushant in 1778 and was court-martialled for it in a trial that turned into a political crisis. He had gone to sea at ten, sailed round the world with Anson as a midshipman, and had a long and creditable career in the Seven Years War, taking Goree and commanding at Havana, where his share of the prize money was a fortune. He was also a Rockingham Whig who opposed the war against the American colonies, and he accepted command of the Channel fleet in 1778 only when France entered the war, on the ground that fighting France was a different matter. At Ushant in July his fleet met the French under d'Orvilliers and the action was inconclusive; his third in command, Sir Hugh Palliser, a government supporter, failed to bring his division into action when signalled. The quarrel became public, Palliser demanded a court martial of his commander, and Keppel was tried at Portsmouth in early 1779 for negligence. The acquittal was unanimous and was celebrated with bonfires and riots in London, in which Palliser's house was gutted; the affair split the navy along party lines for years and did real damage to its command culture during a war. Keppel refused further service under North's government, and was First Lord of the Admiralty twice under Rockingham and Portland. Reynolds painted him repeatedly and the full-length of 1752 made both their reputations. He was made Viscount Keppel in 1782. Palliser was given the governorship of Greenwich Hospital and never commanded at sea again. The Keppel affair is still taught in naval histories as the case study in what political division does to a fleet.

• Lived: 1725 CE – 1786 CE
• Nationality: British
• Roles: military