Service to Prussia and Restoration
However, Keith’s time in the court was not to last longer after this retiring in 1741. Unable to follow Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s leadership and not trusting his plans, he was perhaps seen as the old guard who had failed to secure the Stuart right and was being ostracised by Charles in favour of new thinking and action.
His military career would not end here, as he immediately took a commission in the Prussian Army. Frederick the Great made him the Ambassador to France in 1751 and in 1759 to Spain. During the Seven Years War, when Prussia was aligned with Great Britain, Keith, in a rare show of support for the Hanoverians, alerted them to the Spanish plans to join the fight on the side of France and therefore against the British. This act lead to King George II, in 1759, pardoning him for his support of the Stuart’s in the ’15. Returning his title and estate, although Keith would only rarely return, selling and remaining in Prussia as a close friend of Frederick until his death in 1778.
The Elphinstone Family: Early History and William Elphinstone
The provenance of the following lots are also tied with another important and ancient Scottish family, Elphinstone.
Among their earliest rank includes William Elphinstone (1431 – 1514) who was an important Scottish statesman and in 1483 became Bishop of Aberdeen. He was an enlightened man who not only founded Aberdeen University but sponsored printing in Scotland and had a large library. He was instrumental in the improvement of Aberdeen, building bridges, roads and of course churches. The Papal permission to found the university came to him in 1495 and was added to by a college named for King James IV.
Family Seats
A family with deep rooted connections to Aberdeen, they would ultimately settle at Elphinstone Tower, south of Tranent, from the 15th century and, in the 16th century, Carberry Tower, south east of Musselburgh.
Marriage and Union
The coming together of the Elphinstone and Keith families, families of longevity and distinction, is one of relatively modern times. The marriage of Lady Clementina Fleming daughter of John Fleming, 6th Earl of Wigton and Lady Mary Keith married Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone in 1735. The union would cement the family wealth, status and coin the Keith Elphinstone naming tradition.
Later Generations
The family would continue to serve Britain and the crown with many notable title holders and various generations serving in the armed forces, notably Major-General William George Keith Elphinstone who served through the 19th century notably at Waterloo (see lot 432) and Kabul in the first Afghan War and Admiral George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith, GCB, FRS who served with distinction in the navy, being elevated to Admiral of the Red for his long and illustrious service.
The Collection
This remarkable group of pieces has descended by direct descent coming to market for the first time in their history, remarkable relics of two intertwined powerful Scottish families.
