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Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Keppel, Henry

14 June 1809 – 17 January 1904

The Honourable Sir Henry Keppel GCB OM was a career naval officer who served in most corners of the world and rose to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet.  His autobiography, published in 1899, paints a vivid picture of a remarkable life.

When on dry land, he lived for a while at Bishopstoke (Eastleigh) and spent some time renovating ‘The Cottage’ (Itchen House, Riverside).  He also left funds for the building of the west tower of St Mary’s Church, the completion of which was commemorated in a stone tablet which reads – ‘This tower is built to the Glory of God and in memory of Admiral of the Fleet The Hon. Sir Henry Keppel GCB OM Churchwarden of the parish 1881 – 1895, October AD 1909’.

Henry Keppel was born in Kensington, the fourth son of the Earl of Albermarle and his wife Elizabeth. Unlikely to inherit he joined the Royal Navy at the tender age of 12, being escorted to the Naval College at Portsmouth by Thomas Garnier, Rector of Bishopstoke, to whom he was related.

Keppel’s diligence and application were rewarded with promotion to lieutenant in January 1829.  He served in the West Indies, the East Indies and Spain, before being involved in the First Opium War and a campaign against Borneo pirates.  After actions in the Baltic and Black Sea, he commanded the British force against Chinese pirates, sinking 100 enemy war-junks in the process.

It was at this point in his career (1858) that he took up residence in Bishopstoke, refurbishing ‘The Cottage’ and developing a trout hatchery. He was on the move again in 1860, heading for Cape Town and then the Brazilian command, before being relieved of his duties under something of a cloud.  With his reputation re-established, he served another spell in the Far East and finally at Plymouth.

Keppel was noted for his charm and exuberance. He was the principal naval aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria and on good terms with the Prince of Wales. At the local level he discharged his obligations by being a churchwarden in Bishopstoke and County Magistrate for the Winchester Petty Sessions.

Keppel’s literary efforts involved the description of an expedition to Borneo on HMS Dido and to India aboard HMS Maeander, but his main work was A Sailor’s Life Under Four Sovereigns, a comprehensive, three-volume personal history.

Sources

  • Wikipedia

  • A Keppel in the Cottage, Eastleigh & District Local History Society, Paper No. 35, Malcolm Dale (1988)

Portrait

Admiral of the Fleet Henry Keppel

Contribution to county’s history

Extraordinary snippets of an upper-class existence, a few of them focused on domestic life at Bishopstoke - but many describing hunting and shooting episodes with the nobility.  The naval campaigns (overseas) are described with relish – it was a gung-ho career.

Relevant published works

Critical Comments

A Victorian admiral in the days of the Empire, with lots of gun-boat diplomacy. Hampshire (and further afield) life very much a catalogue of hunting, shooting, fishing, dining, and sport

Other Comments

Contributor

Dave Allen, November 2023

Key Words

Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, life in the navy

Any queries or further suggestions for this part of the list should be addressed to celebrating@hantsfieldclub.org.uk.

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