Emily was born in Port Louis, Mauritius, daughter of George Robinson, who was a Member of the Stock Exchange in London in 1861, and Margaret. She married Admiral Keppel in 1862. They had one son and five daughters, of whom Beatrix, their fifth child, died in 1943 and is buried in St Botolph's Cemetery with her parents. Not one of the six had any children themselves.
Admiral Keppel's Grandfather was the 4th Earl of Albemarle and his father was a Rector and a Canon of Norwich. The family were direct descendants of James 1. In 1871 the Keppels were living at Madras Villa, Mount Pleasant in Norwich, with 2 daughters, a Nurse, Housemaid and Cook. Admiral Keppel was by then a Commander in the Royal Navy.
He was involved in action off West Africa in the 1870s, in raising a siege and in razing the country in retribution afterwards. He had also spent some time with Dr Livingstone up the Zambezi.
In 1881 the family was living in Walmer, Kent. It was then Captain Keppel, Emily, two daughters and one son (one daughter died in 1880), and three servants.
In 1891 the family was living in the Flag Captain's House in HM Dockyard in the Isle of Sheppey, with three daughters and four servants. One of their daughters rejoiced in the name of Ada Cunigunda Margarita.
In 1901 they were living near Woolwich. Admiral Keppel, Emily, with three daughters, all single and in their twenties, with no occupations, and three servants. In 1905, Emily attended a Royal Garden party at Marlborough House as a representative of the Worthing and District League of Mercy. She was presented to the Prince and Princess of Wales (George and Mary).
By 1911 they were living at Melrose in Manor Road which was between Rowlands and Boundary Roads. Emily died here on 18th May 1913. At her funeral, coastguards acted as pallbearers. Leicester placed a wreath in the shape of an anchor on her moss-lined coffin. Probate was granted on 1st July to Leicester Chantrey Keppel Rear-Admiral RN and Edith Elizabeth Anne Douglas wife of Donald Sholto Mackenzie Douglas. Effects £1189 15s.