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Robert George Kekewich
1 of 2 portraits of Robert George Kekewich
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Robert George Kekewich
by Unknown photographer
albumen print, 1890s
5 1/2 in. x 3 7/8 in. (140 mm x 97 mm) image size
Given by Martin Plaut, 2012
Primary Collection
NPG P1700(48a)
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- Unknown photographer, Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 6583 portraits.
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Events of 1890back to top
Current affairs
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, publishes In Darkest England, in which he compares the supposedly 'civilised' England with 'Darkest Africa'. A critique of the degenerate state of society, Booth also proposed social welfare schemes to alleviate the sufferings of the urban poor.The world's first electric underground railway opens to the public in London, passing under the Thames and linking the City of London and Stockwell.
Art and science
William Morris founds the Kelmscott Press, a revival of art and craft techniques of book printing. Publications included The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (1896), with decorative designs and typeface by Morris and illustrations by Edward Burne-Jones.Vincent Van Gogh dies after shooting himself in the chest in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.
Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray first appears in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine .
International
Cecil Rhodes, organiser of the diamond-mining De Beers Consolidated Mines, becomes premier of Cape Colony as part of his expansionist aims in South Africa.In Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II dismisses Otto von Bismarck.
An international anti-slavery conference is held in Brussels, leading to the signing of a treaty by all the major maritime nations covering action to be taken against the trade in Africa and suppression of it by sea.
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Martin Plaut
29 January 2018, 19:34
This from Wikipedia
Major-General Robert George Kekewich, CB (17 June 1854 – 5 November 1914) was a Victorian era British Army officer.
Contents
1 Military career
2 Character
3 Death
4 References
5 External links
Military career
Kekewich was the second son of Trehawke Kekewich, of Peamore House, near Exeter, Devon, and the grandson of Samuel Trehawke Kekewich. He was also the brother of Sir Trehawke Herbert Kekewich, 1st Baronet and the nephew of the judge Sir Arthur Kekewich. He was educated at Marlborough, and entered the army through the militia in 1874. Kekewich joined the Buffs on 2 December 1874. He fought in the Perak War of 1875-6, and in the Sudan, 1884-5, where he gained a brevet majority. He was employed as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General in the Sudan campaign of 1888, and afterwards as military secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, Madras, and was engaged in the Third Anglo-Burmese War.[1]
He was promoted into the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) and commanded the 1st Battalion of that regiment in the Second Boer War. He commanded the garrison in Kimberley during the siege and successful defence of the town, during which time he came into conflict with Cecil Rhodes who was also present. Following the relief of the town on 15 February 1900, Rhodes persuaded John French, commanding the relief force, to replace Kekewich with another officer as commander of the garrison. Kekewich received a brevet promotion to colonel for his services a week later, on 21 February 1900.[2] In late September 1901 he was wounded in an attack by General de la Rey near Moedwil,[3] but soon recuperated. In April 1902 he was in charge during the British victory at the Battle of Rooiwal, the last major battle during the war. He stayed in South Africa until peace had been signed in June 1902, when he returned to England on the SS Carisbrook Castle, landing at Southampton in early August.[4] In a despatch dated 23 June 1902, Lord Kitchener, Commander in Chief in South Africa during the latter part of the war, wrote how Kekewich had "maintained his high reputation as a fine soldier of character, loyalty and discretion" throughout the war, and concluded that he was "well qualified to hold high command."[5] For his services, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), and on 22 August 1902 he was promoted major general. In early August 1902 he was placed on half-pay.[6]
Kekewich retired from the army in 1904 but was appointed to the honorary position of Colonel of the Buffs on 5 October 1909.[1]
Character
The historian Thomas Pakenham describes Kekewich as "a pleasant ... unassuming man" but also a serious, painstaking soldier with strong nerves and diplomatic skills.[7] These traits were needed during the siege of Kimberley when Cecil Rhodes behaved in an emotional and irresponsible manner, undermining Kekewich's leadership and standing with his military superiors.[8]
Death
On the outbreak of World War I in 1914 General Kekewich was appointed to the 13th (Western) Division, which he commanded until shortly before his death by suicide at the age of 60 on 5 November 1914. In poor health and suffering from depression, Kekewich had been invalided from his command and hospitalized before returning to his home near Exeter.[9] He was buried in St Martin's Churchyard, Exminster, Devon.[10]