Peter Karl Christoph von Keith (24 May 1711 – 27 December 1756) was a Prussian statesman, military officer, and confidant of Crown Prince Frederick II, later known as

Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...

. Keith was of a branch of the Scottish

Clan Keith Clan Keith is a Scottish Highlands, Highland and Scottish Lowlands, Lowland Scottish clan, whose Chief historically held the hereditary title of Marischal, then Great Marischal, then Earl Marischal of Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland.Way, George an ...

, which granted him noble status, and was descendant from Scottish emigrants residing in Pomerania. Keith was initially introduced to the Prussian aristocracy by becoming a page to Frederick William I.

Life

Although born in

Farther Pomerania Farther Pomerania, Hinder Pomerania, Rear Pomerania or Eastern Pomerania (german: Hinterpommern, Ostpommern), is the part of Pomerania which comprised the eastern part of the Duchy and later Province of Pomerania. It stretched roughly from the Od ...

, Keith was ethnically Scottish as his family had come to Pomerania via Sweden, Keith was introduced to Crown Prince Frederick during his time as a page to Frederick William, and by age 17 quickly became close with him due to a mutual fear of the king. There is speculation that Frederick had interest in a homosexual relationship with him, however the matter would never be settled with absolute certainty. He frequently provided the Crown Prince with information regarding his standing with Frederick William. Although Keith was initially within good standing of Frederick William I, he rapidly fell out of favour once rumour was spread that he had an intimate relationship with the Crown Prince, after which he was promoted to an officer in the army, and was appointed to a regiment close to

Cleves Kleve (; traditional en, Cleves ; nl, Kleef; french: Clèves; es, Cléveris; la, Clivia; Low Rhenish: ''Kleff'') is a town in the Lower Rhine region of northwestern Germany near the Dutch border and the River Rhine. From the 11th century ...

in order to separate him from the crown prince. Later in 1730, Keith briefly returned to Pomerania as he attempted to aid the Crown Prince in his escape to England with

Hans Hermann von Katte Hans Hermann von Katte (28 February 1704 – 6 November 1730) was a Lieutenant of the Prussian Army, and a friend, tutor and possible lover of the future King Frederick II of Prussia, who was at the time the Crown Prince. Katte was executed by Fr ...

. Although by the time he arrived the plot was discovered. Keith narrowly evaded treason charges brought down by Frederick William I by fleeing to

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

seeking the protection of

Lord Chesterfield Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, (22 September 169424 March 1773) was a British statesman, diplomat, and man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time. Early life He was born in London to Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Ches ...

, an English envoy. After which he fled to England. As he no longer could be punished, Frederick William I hanged Keith's effigy symbolically. He died on 27 December 1756.

Footnotes

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Keith, Peter Karl Christoph von 18th-century Prussian military personnel 1711 births 1756 deaths German people of Scottish descent Prussian Army personnel Prussian military officers