Keith, George Keith Elphinstone, Viscount

views updated

George Keith Elphinstone Keith, Viscount 1746–1823, British admiral. After serving as a captain in the American Revolution and early French Revolutionary Wars, he was appointed (1795) vice admiral. He suppressed the mutinies at Nore and Spithead (1797) and commanded the Mediterranean fleet (1798–1801), the North Sea fleet (1803–7), and the Channel fleet (1812–15), receiving Napoleon's surrender after Waterloo. Not a military tactician, he won no notable battles but was a skilled administrator and commander.

About this article

Keith, George Keith Elphinstone, Viscount

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article