Lieutenant-General William Keppel (5 November 1727 – March 1782) was a British Army officer and Member of Parliament. Life He was born the third son of Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, and educated at Westminster school. He joined the British Army as an Ensign in the 2nd Foot Guards in 1744, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1745. He transferred as captain-lieutenant to the 1st Foot Guards in 1751, and was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1752 and a colonel of the Army in 1760. On 17 December 1761 he was appointed colonel of the 56th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded until 1765. He was made major-general in 1762. In 1762, he took part (with his brothers the Earl of Albemarle and Hon. Augustus Keppel) in the British expedition against Cuba, and directed the storming of Morro Castle. In 1763, he succeeded Albemarle as British Governor of Cuba. The island was returned to Spain in July 1763. On 31 May 1765, he was appointed colonel of the 14th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded until 1775, during which time he was elevated to lieutenant-general (1772). From 1767 until his death, he was a Member of Parliament for Chichester. He was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1773. On 18 October 1775 he was appointed colonel of the 12th Royal Lancers, which he commanded until his death. He was Gentleman of the Horse to King George III of Great Britain and died unmarried in 1782. References 1727 births 1782 deaths People educated at Westminster School, London Willem Keppel (British Army officer) British Army lieutenant generals Colonial heads of Cuba Commanders-in-Chief, Ireland Pages of Honour Younger sons of earls 56th Regiment of Foot officers 12th Royal Lancers officers British Army personnel of the Seven Years' War Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1761–1768 British MPs 1768–1774 British MPs 1774–1780 British MPs 1780–1784 Coldstream Guards officers Grenadier Guards officers