The Riddell Collection of Wax Seals:
Seal Life Stories: the remarkable careers of 23 individuals from the Riddell Collection of Wax Seals
3: The Rt. Hon. Admiral Lord Viscount Keith K.B (1746-1823)
The Rt. Hon. Admiral Lord Viscount Keith K.B 1746-1823 by George Sanders
George Keith Elphinstone was born at Elphinstone Tower 7th January 1746 to Charles, 10th Lord Elphinstone and Lady Clementina Fleming.
After joining the Navy in 1761, he joined the East India Company in 1767, being promoted to Lieutenant by 1770. During his time spent ashore from 1783, he was M.P. for Dunbartonshire. During the Napoleonic Wars, he advanced through the ranks, being invested with the Order of the Bath in May 1794, and 12 April becoming rear-admiral. He was made full Admiral on 1st January 1801, and on 5th December of the same year he was created a baron of the united kingdom for his part at the landing of Aboukir. He became Viscount Keith in May 1814 at theconclusion of the War.
Keith married Jane Mercer in 1787, having one daughter, Margaret, and retired in 1814 to his house at Tulliallan Castle, Fifeshire, where he died on 10 March 1823.