BERLIN'S SCOTTISH GOVERNOR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 187, 30 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

BERLIN'S SCOTTISH GOVERNOR.

AX ABKRDONIAN WHO PULED THE KAISER'S CAPITAL.

Reposing in a handsome tomli within the Garrison Church at Berlin he the remains oi' a Scot who once ruled over the capital of the Kaisers. An Aberdonian, abundantly blessed with the grit and canmness proverbially associated with Graniteland. Fate made him, instead of a lawyer, the <i!ose friend of two Empresses renowned in European history, and of an Emperor whose name will for ever stand out on the world's roll of monarch s.

The former were the Empresses Anna and Elizabeth of Russia: r.lie latter, Frederick the Great, of the once reputable kingdom of Prussia. Born within the Castle of Inverug'e, Peterhead, towards the close of the 17th century, the Scot in question was .lames' Francis Keith, second son cf William Keith, ninth Earl Marischal. Scion of a house which for centuries had divided its talents 'twixt military and administrative affairs, something of the latter was intended for young Keith by his long-headed as well as long-descended parents. Consequently, after concluding a careful education i;e was sent to Edinburgh to study law. .JACOBITE SOLDIERING. For such a career, however, the young man had scant relish. Something more exciting, soldiering, for preference, was nine to his taste. Circumstances soon fulfilled his wi-hes. Abandoning his studies, he_sct out for London in'quest of a military commission, and at York he met his elder brother, George, hurrying back to Scotland. The reason for the. haste was news that Mar had raised the standard of rebellion, and the " "1J" had been definitely launched. The result of the meeting was an overjoyed recruit in James, who a little later assisted his brother to proclaim James VII. at the Cross in Aberdeen.

The sequel was the common experience of nearly all who took part in the adventure — brave fighting, honourable defeat, and then night. Both brothers escaped to Bt'ttany, George to again wield the sword; James, tor a time, to return to law and literature.

But once more love of cause and country claimed him. During a three years' sojourn in Paris he had kept m constant touch with brother Jacobites and sympathisers, and was in consequence fully acquainted with A'horoni's projected descent on the We-torn Highlands. This rash enterprise he joined, shared in the encounter at Glensluel, and after the surrender of the Spanish au.xi'iaries he fled into hiding. Later he escaped to Holland, and. pending employment nearer home, he took service under the King of Spain. For nine years he remained in the Spanish army, taking part. among other notable engagements. :n the siege of Gibraltar in 172G-7. RISING RUSSIA. About this period, the rising and ambitious Russia showed considerable, enterprise in tin. attracting to her service of likely free lances, British for choice. Among' these who responded to the invitation was James Keith, (oven the rank of major-general, he stems to have graspd with both hands the opportunities now offered him. Within two years of entering Russia he was appointed colonel m the bodyguard to the Empress Anna, and by another co :p ! e of years, m 170'2, was made army inspector of the \ olga and Don territories.

Hfe real ehiince, however, came with the war of the Polish Succession in 1733-5. Second in command of tlio Russian forces during this period, Keith pushed the French back to the Rhine, win n a truce stayed the victorious advance ol the Muscovites. ]n the year following came «ar with Turkey, and onee mo;j K< t ; i was placed' m a prominent command. At the storming oi Utcliukoli he was dangerous'y wounded, and : t boked as :i \\:> military carter would be brought to a close by the amputation of a leg. " 1 would sooner loot' ten thousand o; my host soldiers than Keith, - ' declared the Empress when iiiiormed of her favourite's misfortune; and immediately she summoned to his aid the be-t surgical skill obtainable within her dominions.

Another person, however, was even nioro interested in tlie' wounded General's welfare. Thus was his brother George, who hastened over half f.urope when lie learned that Jan.es was in danger. L'nwi ling to trust him to Muscovite surgery. George insisted on convoying his brother to Pans, and thcro'more skilful treatment happily saved the injured limlj Following lite convalescence, both brothers crossed to England, and. although still Jacobites, spent some months in London unmolested. Heturning to Russia, James wu- made Governor of the I kraine, an appointment from which he was recalled to do baitb against the formidable Swedes. On the concision of peace he was sent Or; a sp.c'al Ambassador to Stockholm, where he appears to have distinguish" 1 himself m diplomacy no less than he had previously done in war.

BECOMES GOVERNOR OF BERLIN. Returning once more to Rns-ia, he was loaded with gifts and honours lytic new Empress, Elizabeth, and this effectively ensured his downfall, so far as concerned that country. Intrigue and jealousy quickly undermined the favouritism of even the astute Keith, and one bv one he was stripped ol ais offices. Eventually, left with only the command of some militia regiments, and given a hint that he might become a candidate for a dungeon, or worse, lie fled the country, disgusted as well as dispossessed. Neither had he far to go m r long to wait before finding fresh employment. Possibly he had prepared the way before cutting adrift from Russia, but in any case, withm less than a month of severing his service there he found himself a field-marshal under Frederick the Great. Further appreciating the kind oi man lie bad got bold of.' Frederick made Keith the Governor of Berlin at the then considerable salary of I'lliOO per annum. From the liist Keith succeeded to the complete confidence of his new master, who always consulted him on <,u -turns hearing alike on military and diplomatic affairs. During the critic ll period of tile Seven Years War. he was so closely associated with the King that a record of his movements would amount to a derailed recount ot the entire campaigns. Following varied fortuius and disasters to the Prussian arms, came the crushing blew at lloehkirch. There, at the break ol day_nii tli • morning of Oetob, r 1 Ith. [<■<>. the weak Prussian wing under Keith W!is overwhelmed by vastly superior number-! of Austnans, and. valiaiillx attempting to rally ids men the Marshal received two wound-. the second of whi<-!i proved mortal. Vfier the battle bis naked le.dy was found i.|ion the field and, out ol r0,,.,.. ~.,.. ,„ ; , 1,,-ave foe. was given luuiour- :,',;,, | 1U1 .;.,i [,v the Austrian .0.im.nn- ,!,.,■ in the vdl.ge chrrch ai llohk'reh ' Soon afterwards. Frederick e.-iu-ed t l u , remains to b.. exhumed and re--1'.,:,.,] .., !!,.rbn the King lu-t 'i r 0r- ,,,';„:,- ';, splendid marble monument , , |,, ..reeled in memory ol h's late 1,,;.!,,; u-iend. For nearly < n- hun-

dred years this statue stood in the Wilhelmplatz, and then, in 1807, it was repaced by a bronze reproduction, the original being removed to thet'adets' Academy. KAISERS CUT TO PETERHEAD. Forty-eight years ago a replica was presented to Peterheadjc, WiJlium 1., grandfather of the Kaiser. The latter likewise, it is not uninteresting to note, paid tribute U> the man who lor so many years previously wived his ancestor. In I*B9, a year aitci coming to the throne, Wilhelm .sanctioned th- re-naming of the Ist Upper Silesian Regiment the "Keith Regiment," not forgetting, probably, that the territory From which the corps is recruited was added to his empire in that same war which resulted >ij the death nt Keith.