An oval bust-length portrait of Augustus Keppel (1725–1786) in rear-admiral’s full-dress uniform, 1767–87. The portrait is surrounded by a thick oval frame with a swag of drapery on the left and a laurel branch and a cannon on the right. Underneath the portrait is a fictive stone plinth adorned with the sitter’s coat of arms, in front of which are a telescope and an anchor. Lettered beneath the image with the title, ‘Admiral Keppel’, and the production and publication details: ‘Dod del. / Cook sculp. / Published 1st of Feby. 1779 by Fieldin & Walker Pater Nosr. Row.’ This print was engraved by Cook after a drawing by Daniel Dodd. It was published by Fielding and Walker as an illustration in ‘The Westminster Magazine, or the Pantheon of Taste’, volume 7 (1779), opposite page 1, together with ‘A Concise Account of the Life and Eminent Services of the Honourable Augustus Keppel, Admiral of the Blue’, pp. 1–4. Augustus Keppel had a long naval career. He was the second son of the Earl of Albemarle and one of a powerful Whig family who came to England with William III in 1688. At the age of fifteen in 1740, Keppel sailed with Commodore George Anson on his four-year voyage around the world. He then served as a captain in the Western Squadron before being made commodore and sent on diplomatic mission to the Mediterranean in 1749. Keppel subsequently led a small expedition to capture the island fortress of Gorée on the West African coast in 1758 and commanded the ‘Torbay’, 74 guns, at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759. In August 1762, he was second-in-command to Sir George Pocock at the capture of Havana, gaining promotion to rear-admiral a few months later. In the late 1760s and the 1770s, he pursued a political career on shore. Romney’s portrait was painted during this period in Keppel’s life and depicts the admiral in civilian clothing, rather than naval uniform, in order to emphasise his political career instead of his seafaring exploits. However, Keppel subsequently returned to sea in 1778. In July 1778, he commanded the British fleet at the Battle of Ushant. The result of this battle was inconclusive, giving rise to a bitter dispute between Keppel and his second-in-command Hugh Palliser over what had gone wrong. The whole affair was politically charged, for Keppel had the support of the opposition Whigs whereas Palliser was backed by the Tory government. The dispute culminated in Keppel being court-martialled. His trial generated massive public support for the opposition and his acquittal in February 1779 was greeted with widespread popular celebrations. This print was published as part of the extensive press coverage of Keppel at this time. (Updated May 2019.)