The Keiths are an ancient family and as early as the 12th century held the office of Great Marischal of Scotland. Sir William Keith, about 1390, built the historic Dunottar Castle, Sir Robert Keith was created Lord Keith and the 2nd Lord was elevated to Earl Marischal in 1458. Marischal College, Aberdeen, was founded by the Earl Marischal. The Earl Marischal took the Jacobite side in the 1715 Rising and after the failure of that attempt he went to the Continent. There he won a high reputation for his military ability and became a General in the Russian Army in 1737. He was a close friend of Frederick the Great, who made him a Field Marshal. He died in 1758.