Sir Basil Keith (c.1734 – 15 November 1777) was a British naval officer and Governor of Jamaica.
Sir Basil Keith | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1734 |
| Died | 15 November 1777 Jamaica |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1747–1777 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | HMS Medway HMS Badger HMS Dover HMS Amazon HMS Levant HMS Preston HMS Pearl Governor of Jamaica |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight bachelor (1772) |
| Relations | Robert Murray Keith (father) Sir Robert Murray Keith (brother) |
He was born the second son of diplomat Robert Murray Keith and the younger brother of Lieutenant-General Robert Keith.[1]
Keith joined the Navy, and was promoted lieutenant in 1756 while serving in HMS Badger. He was raised to commander in 1758 and appointed to HMS Dover. He was finally promoted captain in 1760 and given command in turn of HMS Amazon, Levant, Preston and Pearl.
He was knighted on 10 June 1772 and appointed Governor of Jamaica in February 1773, taking up his post in January 1774.
He died in Jamaica in 1777 and a large marble monument by sculptor Joseph Wilton was erected in his honour in 1780 at St Catherine's Parish Church (St Jago de la Vega church) in the old capital of Spanish Town.
References
edit- ^ "Captain Sir Basil Keith (d. 1777)". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 21 August 2019.