JAMES-FRANCIS EDWARD, field-marshal in the Prussian service, was the younger son of William Keith, earl marshal of Scotland; and was born in 1696. He was designed by his friends for the law; but his inclination led to arms, and the first occasion of drawing his sword was at the age of 18 years, when the rebellion broke out in Scotland. Through the instigation of his mother, he joined James's party, was wounded at the battle of Sheriffmuir, and made his escape to France. Here he applied himself to military studies; and going to Madrid, he by the interest of the duke of Liria obtained a commission in the Irish brigades, then commanded by the duke of Ormond. He afterwards attended the duke of Liria, when he went ambassador to Moscow; and being by him recommended to the Czarina, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and invested with the order of the black eagle. He distinguished himself by his valour and conduct in the Russian service, and had no inconsiderable share in the revolution that raised Elizabeth the daughter of Peter the Great to the throne: he also served in several embassies; but finding the honours of that country but a splendid kind of slavery, he left that court and entered the Prussian service. The king of Prussia made him field-marshal of the Prussian armies, and governor of Berlin; and distinguished him so far by his confidence, as to travel in disguise with him over a great part of Germany, Poland, and Hungary. In business, he made him his chief counsellor; in his diversions, his chief companion. The king was much pleased with an amusement which the marshal invented in imitation of the game of chess. The marshal ordered several thousand small statues of men in armour to be cast by a founder; these he would set opposite to each other, and range them in battalia, in the same manner as if he had been drawing up an army; he would bring out a party from the wings or centre, and show the advantage or disadvantage resulting from the different draughts which he made. In this manner the king and the marshal often amused themselves, and at the same time improved their military knowledge. This brave and experienced general, after many important services in the wars of that illustrious monarch, was killed in the unfortunate affair of Hochkirchen, in the year 1758.

The family of Keith was among the most ancient in Europe. In 1010 the Scots gained a complete victory over the Danes at Camus town in Angus; King Malcolm II. as a reward for the signal bravery of a certain young nobleman who purified and killed Camus the Danish general, bestowed on him several lands, particularly the barony of Keith in East Lothian, from which his posterity assumed their surname. The king also appointed him hereditary great marshal of Scotland, which high office continued in his family till the year 1715, when the last earl engaged in the rebellion, and forfeited his estate and honours; and thus ended the family of Marechal, after serving their country in a distinguished capacity above 700 years.