Robert William Keate Explained

Robert William Keate
Office:Commissioner of the Seychelles
Term Start:1850
Term End:1852
Predecessor:Charles Augustus Etienne Mylius
Successor:Charles William Bhering, Viscount Bhering
Order2:17th (British)
Office2:Governor of Trinidad
Term Start2:26 January 1857
Term End2:1864
Predecessor2:B. Brooks
Successor2:John Henry Thomas Manners-Sutton
Order3:8th
Office3:Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Natal
Term Start3:1867
Term End3:1872
Predecessor3:John Bisset
Successor3:Anthony Musgrave
Office4:Governor of the Gold Coast
Term Start4:7 March 1873
Term End4:17 March 1873
Monarch4:Victoria
Predecessor4:Charles Spencer Salmon
Successor4:Robert William Harley
Birth Date:1814 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Westminster, London, UK, UK
Death Place:Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast
Nationality:British
Spouse:Thando Keate
Relations:Robert Keate (father), John Keate (great-uncle)
Alma Mater:Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford
Club1:Oxford University
Year1:1834–1837
Club2:Marylebone Cricket Club
Year2:1835–1848
Columns:1
Column1:First-class
Matches1:39
Runs1:387
Bat Avg1:6.14
100S/50S1:0/0
Top Score1:30
Deliveries1:?
Wickets1:2
Bowl Avg1:?
Fivefor1:0
Tenfor1:0
Best Bowling1:?
Catches/Stumpings1:8/–
Date:2 May
Year:2010
Source:http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/15955.html Cricinfo

Robert William Keate (16 June 1814 – 17 March 1873) was a career British colonial governor, serving as Commissioner of the Seychelles from 1850 to 1852, Governor of Trinidad from 1857 to 1864, Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal from 1867 to 1872,[1] and Governor of Gold Coast from 7 March 1873 to 17 March 1873.

Early life and family

Keate was born in 1814 in Westminster, London, the second son and one of four children of Robert Keate, the brother of John Keate. His older brother Charles died soon after leaving school. Keate was educated at Eton College and later Christ Church, Oxford.[2] [3] He played some cricket at school, playing at Lord's in his final year against Winchester College and in the annual Eton v Harrow match.[4] He graduated in 1836 and was awarded his Masters degree in 1842 before being called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1844.[3]

Cricket career

Keate made his first-class debut for the Gentlemen in the 1832 Gentlemen v Players fixture before going up to Oxford later in the year. At university he played three first-class matches for the university side and in 1835 played the first of 21 matches for MCC. He also played first-class cricket for the Gentlemen of Kent, a Fast Bowlers side, the Gentlemen of England, a Hampshire XI, and an England XI against Kent in 1840. In his 39 first-class matches, he scored 387 runs and took two wickets.[4] [5]

Colonial service

Commissioner of the Seychelles

In 1850, Keate was appointed as the Commissioner of the Seychelles. This was a position he held from 1850 to 1852.

Governor of Trinidad

Keate later joined the colonial civil service upon, and was sent to the West Indies in 1857 as Governor of Trinidad, a position he held from 26 January 1857 to 1864.

Lieutenant-governor of Natal

In 1867, Keate was appointed the Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal, a position he held from 1867 to 1872.

Governor of Cape Coast

In 1872, Keate was appointed the Governor of the Gold Coast from 7 March 1873 to 17 March 1873. Keate died at Cape Coast Castle in the Gold Coast on 17 March 1873, just ten days into his Governorship.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Anon. The Royal Kalendar, and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Colonies. 1870. R & A Suttaby. London. 510.
  2. Stapylton HEC (1884) Eton School Lists 1791 to 1877, pp. 130–131. Eton: R Ingalton Drake. (Available online at The Internet Archive. Retrieved 10 November 2023.)
  3. Foster J (1884) Alumni Oxonienses, later series, E–K, p. 781. Oxford: Parker and Co. (Available online at The Internet Archive. Retrieved 10 November 2023.)
  4. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/30/30699/30699.html Robert Keate
  5. https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/robert-keate-15955 Robert Keate
  6. Web site: Governers and Heads of State. www.ghanaweb.com. 2 August 2020.