This compelling biography of Augustus Viscount Keppel offers a fascinating glimpse into the politics and personalities of the late 18th century British navy. Keppel's rise from midshipman to admiral was marked by his skill as a naval commander, his relationships with notable figures such as Captain James Cook and John Paul Jones, and his controversial court martial for failing to engage the French fleet in 1778. Drawing on primary source documents and interviews with Keppel's family and contemporaries, the author provides a vivid portrait of a complex and compelling figure in British naval history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.