Robert William Keate

Robert William Keate
Commissioner of the Seychelles
In office 1850–1852
Preceded by	Charles Augustus Etienne Mylius
Succeeded by	Charles William Bhering, Viscount Bhering
17th (British) Governor of Trinidad
In office 26 January 1857 – 1864
Preceded by	B. Brooks
Succeeded by	John Henry Thomas Manners-Sutton
8th Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Natal
In office 1867–1872
Preceded by	John Bisset
Succeeded by	Anthony Musgrave
Governor of the Gold Coast
In office 7 March 1873 – 17 March 1873
Monarch	Victoria
Preceded by	Charles Spencer Salmon
Succeeded by	Robert William Harley
Personal details
Born	(1814-06-16)16 June 1814 Westminster, London, UK, UK
Died	17 March 1873(1873-03-17) (aged 58) Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast
Spouse	Thando Keate
Relations	Robert Keate (father), John Keate (great-uncle)
Alma mater	Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford

Domestic team information
Years	Team
1834–1837	Oxford University
1835–1848	Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 39 Runs scored 387 Batting average 6.14 100s/50s 0/0 Top score 30 Balls bowled ? Wickets 2 Bowling average ? 5 wickets in innings 0 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling ? Catches/stumpings 8/–
Source: Cricinfo, 2 May 2010

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]

References

1. Anon (1870). The Royal Kalendar, and Court and City Register for England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Colonies. London: R & A Suttaby. p. 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. Robert Keate, CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 November 2023. (subscription required)
5. Robert Keate, CricInfo. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
6. "Governers and Heads of State". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

External links

• Robert William Keate at ESPNcricinfo

Government offices
Preceded by Charles Augustus Etienne Mylius	Commissioner of the Seychelles 1850–1852	Succeeded by George Thompson Wade
Preceded by B. Brooks	Governor of Trinidad 1857–1864	Succeeded by Sir John Henry Thomas Manners-Sutton
Preceded by John Bisset	Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal 1867–1872	Succeeded by Sir Anthony Musgrave
Preceded by Charles Spencer Salmon	Governor of the Gold Coast 1873	Succeeded by Robert William Harley