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.

Robert William Keate
Commissioner of the Seychelles
In office
1850–1852
Preceded byCharles Augustus Etienne Mylius
Succeeded byCharles William Bhering, Viscount Bhering
17th (British) Governor of Trinidad
In office
26 January 1857 – 1864
Preceded byB. Brooks
Succeeded byJohn Henry Thomas Manners-Sutton
8th Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Natal
In office
1867–1872
Preceded byJohn Bisset
Succeeded byAnthony Musgrave
Governor of the Gold Coast
In office
7 March 1873 – 17 March 1873
MonarchVictoria
Preceded byCharles Spencer Salmon
Succeeded byRobert William Harley
Personal details
Born(1814-06-16)16 June 1814
Westminster, London, UK, UK
Died17 March 1873(1873-03-17) (aged 58)
Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast
SpouseThando Keate
RelationsRobert Keate (father), John Keate (great-uncle)
Alma materEton College, Christ Church, Oxford
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1834–1837Oxford University
1835–1848Marylebone 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

Early life and family

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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

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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

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Commissioner of the Seychelles

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

Governor of Trinidad

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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

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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

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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

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.
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Government offices
Preceded by Commissioner of the Seychelles
1850–1852
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Trinidad
1857–1864
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant-governor of the Colony of Natal
1867–1872
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of the Gold Coast
1873
Succeeded by