Lot Essay
Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel (1725-1786) joined the Royal Navy at the age of ten and by 1770 was a Vice Admiral and a Whig member of the House of Commons. He was court martialled in February 1779 after the naval defeat at Ushant, near Brittany. Keppel believed this defeat was partly due to the insubordination of Sir Hugh Palliser, who disregarded his orders. Although both Palliser and Keppel were acquitted, Keppel's prestige and resulting notoriety, afforded commercial opportunity for commemorative ceramics. Artwork was readily available from contemporary prints of the popular Admiral. Wedgwood produced similar wares with Keppel's head printed in black.