A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Keith, William
KEITH. (Captain, 1828. f-p., 12; h-p., 22.)
The Honourable William Keith was born 16 Dec. 1799, and died 5 Jan. 1846, at Monkrigg, Haddington, N. B., aged 46. He was second and youngest son of William, sixth Earl of Kintore, by Maria, daughter of Sir Alex. Bannerman, Bart., of Kirkhill.
This officer entered the Navy, 14 Feb. 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Invincible 74, Capt. Chas. Adam, and, besides assisting in boat and other operations on the coast of Spain, was present, in June, 1813, at the reduction, after a siege of five days, of the fort of St. Philippe, in the Col de Balaguer, near Tortosa, armed with 12 pieces of ordnance, including 2 10-inch mortars and 2 howitzers, with a garrison of 101 officers and men. After he had been for a short period Midshipman of the Dublin 74, flag-ship at Plymouth of Lord Keith, he became attached, in April, 1814, to the Royal Oak 74, bearing the flag of the late Sir Pulteney Malcolm, under whom he was employed in the expeditions against Baltimore and New Orleans. From Aug. 1815 until about the commencement of 1820, Mr. Keith further served on the Home and Newfoundland stations in the Tartarus, also the flagship of Sir Pulteney Malcolm, Madagascar and Maeander frigates, both commanded by Sir Jas. Alex. Gordon (under whom, in the Meander, he narrowly escaped being wrecked, off Orfordness, in Dec. 1816), and Egeria 26, Capts. Robt. Bowley and Henry Shiffner – of which latter ship he was created a Lieutenant 10 Nov. 1819. His next appointments were to the Blonde 42, and Dartmouth 42, Capts. Lord Byron and Thos. Fellowes. Under the former of those officers he accompanied from this country the remains of the late king and queen of the Sandwich Islands. He was promoted, 14 Aug. 1827, to the command of the Philomel 10, one of the vessels present, on 20 of the following Oct., at the battle of Navarin. Strange to record, however, he was not permitted to join her until after the action, being compelled on the occasion to perform Lieutenant’s duty on board the Dartmouth. He attained Post-rank 18 Aug. 1828, and remained from that period on half-pay.
Capt. Keith married, 24 June, 1830, Louisa, daughter of the late Wm. Grant, Esq., of Congalton, by whom he has left issue a son and daughter. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.