Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle
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Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle, and lord of Voorst in Gelderland (c. 1670 - May 30, 1718), was the son of Oswald van Keppel and his wife Anna Geertruid van Lintello. He was born in the United Netherlands about 1670, and became page to William of Orange. He accompanied him to England in the Revolution of 1688, and became groom of the bedchamber and master of the robes in 1695. On February 10, 1697 William made van Keppel Earl of Albemarle, Viscount Bury and Baron Ashford.
In 1700, William gave Albemarle extensive lands in Ireland, but parliament obliged the king to cancel this grant. William instead granted him £50,000. The same year he was created a Knight of the Garter. He served both with the English and Dutch troops, was major-general in 1697, colonel of several regiments and governor of 's Hertogenbosch.
Handsome and engaging, he rivalled Portland (whose jealousy he aroused in the royal favour,) possessed William's full confidence, and accompanied him everywhere. In February 1702 William, then prostrated with his last illness, sent Albemarle to Holland to arrange the coming campaign, and he only returned in time to receive William's last commissions on his deathbed.
After the death of William III, who bequeathed to him 200,000 guilders and some lands, Albemarle returned to Holland, took his seat as a noble in the States-General, and became a general of cavalry in the Dutch army. He joined the forces of the allies in 1703 in the War of Spanish Succession, was present at the Battle of Ramillies in 1706 and at Oudenaarde in 1708, and distinguished himself at the siege of Lille. He commanded at the siege of Aire in 1710, led Marlborough's second line in 1711, and was general of the Dutch forces in 1712, being defeated at Denain after the withdrawal of Ormonde and the English forces and taken prisoner. He died on May 30, 1718, at the age of forty-eight.
Albemarle married Geertruid, daughter of Adam van der Denijn, by whom, besides a daughter, he had a son, William Anne, who succeeded him as 2nd earl of Albemarle.
Among his direct descendants is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the wife of Charles, Prince of Wales.
| Preceded by: New Creation | Earl of Albemarle | Succeeded by: William van Keppel |