William Keith, 2nd Earl Marischal was a Scottish nobleman born in 1664. He was the son of William Keith, 1st Earl Marischal and became the 2nd Earl after his father's death in 1712. He was known for his loyalty to the Jacobite cause, supporting the claim of the exiled Stuart monarchy. In 1715, he played a significant role in the Jacobite Rising, which aimed to restore the Stuart king, James Francis Edward Stuart, to the throne of Britain. After the failure of the uprising, Keith faced exile and spent much of his later life in France, where he continued to support the Jacobite movement.