Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/464

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KEA. 420 KEANE. KEA. See Kara. KEACH, l«di, Be.nja.min (10401704). .Vn Knglisli Haplisl aiitlior. He was burn at Stoke Haiiiiiumd ; joined the liaptists in 1(15;"); beeanie a preaelier in 105!) ; sull'ered iinpiisonnient for his opinions, 1004; removed to London in 1008, and there died as pastor of a largo Baptist eliurch. lie was noted as a eontroversialist, but is now of interest ehiefly from the eircumstance that he wrote several allejfories, two of which, The Trarcis of True (loilliiicss (1083; latest edi- tion, willi memorial by 11. Maleolm, New Vork, 1831), and its companion, The Progress of tiin, or the Travels of Umjodliness (1684, latest edition 1810) . were very popular. KEAN, Charles John (1811-68). A noted Knylish actor, the .second son of ICdmund Kcan ( q.v. ) . He was born at Waterford, Ireland, Jan- uary 18, 1811, and educated at Eton. He ado|)ted the stage against his father's desire, making his debut at Drury Lane in 1827 as Young Norval in Douylas. In the provinces and in . ierica, which ho first visited in 1830, he was popular Ix'fore he acliievcd a reputation in Tjondon. The only time ivlu ii lie played with liis fatlur in Lon- don, it is said, was at the latlcr's last appearance in 1833, when Charles was lago to his father's Othello. He married in 1842 Miss Ellen Tree, and till his death in 1808 they acted together. His management of the Princess's Theatre (1850- 5',)) was distingnislied for the splendor of some of his productions, the most studious care being expended on scenery and dress. Byron's Siirihi- wi/Mihis, produced in 1853. was perhaps the most striking of these 'restorations,' as they were called. Kean was also director of the royal the- atricals, llis Hamlet was liis greatest Shake- spearean part. He as at his best in such jiieces as The Wife's Secret. The Corsicnn Brothers, and especially in Louis XI. One of his latest under- takings was a tour around the world with his wife, upon which he started in 1803. He died at Clielsea. January 22. 1808. Consult: Cole. The Life and Theatrical Times of Charles Kean (Lon- don, 1859) : Cook. Hours nith the Plai/ers, vol. ii. (ib.. 1881); Marston, Our Recent Actors (ib., 1890) ; Hutton, "Mr. "and Mrs. Charles Kean," in Actors and Actresses of Great Britain and the United States, ed. by Matthews and Hut- ton, vol. iv. (New York, 1880) : Seott. The Drama of Yrsterdaji and To-Dai/ (Txmdon, 1899). KEAN, EuMiND (1787-1833). A celebrated English tragedian. His reputed parents were a vagabond actress mimed Anne Carey and a stage carpenter named .aron Kcan, or the latter's brotlicr Edmund; his childhood in London, where he was born Xovemlier 4. 1787 {'!). was tor the most part one of poor surroundings and many vicissitudes. Almost from babyhood he was brought upon the stage, the first time, it is said, as Cupid in a ballet. On one occasion he gave a recitation before (icorge 111. at Windsor Castle. In 1803 he joined a strolling company, and for eleven years continued his acting ehiefly in pro- vincial towns. In 1808 he married. His api)ear- ance as Shyloek at Drury Lane was made in .lannary. 1814, and in that season his name and fortune were assured. .AH Lcmdon (locked to hear him: Hazlitt. Hunt, and Lamb, who were constantly in the pit, declared that his acting ■was like 'teaching Shakespeare by a flash of lightning.' Yet it is curious to learn that he modi- lied his Hamlet at the request of Mrs. Carrick, in order to do the part more 'as David did.' Kean made his first appearance in the United States in 1820, and was received at lirsl with great enthusi- asm, but later, having with characteristic arro- gance broken an engagement in Boston, he was severelv censured and scion returned to England, where worse troubles awaited him. An action was brouglit against !iim in 1825 for criminal conversation with an alderman's wife, and he was condemned to pay damages. In consequence of this scandal he was hissed from the stage in London and Edinburgh. In the same year he came again to the I'nited States, where the popu- lar hostility was partlj- mitigated only by an ajiology for his conduct. At (,)uebcc, however, he was much tovuhed liy an election fnim the llunm Indians as one ot their chiefs. He reappeared at Drury Lane in 1827, but only occasionally rose to something of his ohl splendor. His h<'alth and spirits were completely broken by his habits of into.xication ; he died at Kiclimond, May 15, 1833. Kean's disjiosition was generous, but un- governable. His dramatic gifts were of a high order. He had an expressive face, with black hair and eyes, and, though small of stature, was of a most ell'ective ])resence, and jxissessed a richly powerful voice. Mis greatest char;uters were Shyloek, Othello, Kichard III., Hamlet, and Sir Giles Overreach. Consult; Proctor (Barry Cornwall). The Life of Udninnd Kean (Boston, 1835): Hawkins, Tlic Life of Udmiind Kcan (Londcm, 1800); Baker, Onr Old Actors (ib., 1881) ; Edwin Booth, "Ednuind Kean," in Actors and .etresses of (treat Briliiin and the United States, ed. by Matthews and Hutton, vol. iii. (New York, ISSO) ; Molloy, The Life and Adren- tares of Edmund Kean, Tragedian, I7S7-JS,iS (London. 1888). KEAN, Ellen Tube (1805-80). An Engli.sh actress, wife of Charles .lohn Kean (q.v.). She made her first a])pearance upon the stage at Covent (Jardcn Theatre, London, in 1823, and soon established a high reputation in leading comedy parts. In 1830 she came to .America, where she met with great success. After her marriage in 1842 she continued to act with her husband, and upon his death in 1868 she retired from the stage. She died Augu.st 20, 1880. Con- sult Winter, in Eminent IVohioi of the Age (Hartford. Conn.. 1809). KEANE, ki-n. John, first Lord Keane (1781- 1844). An Irish soldier. He was born at Bel- mont, County Waterford, Ireland, and was the son of Sir .John Keane. He entered the ;>rmy on a ea])tain's eimimission in 1794. when but thirteen years of age, and in 1799 sen'ed as aide- de-camp to Lord Cavan in the Eg^'ptian cam- paign. After service in (Gibraltar. Ireland. Ber- muda, and at the taking of Martinique in 1H09. he commanded a brigade through the Spanish Peninsular War, and attaineil the rank of majnr- general. In 1814 he eominande<l the expedition which landed at New Orleans, and successfully resisted an American attack on his position. On the .arrival of his superior officer. Sir Edward Pakenham. he continued to serve as brigade com- mander, and was twice wounded. He was creat- ed K.C.B. in 1815. From 1823 to 1830 he was Civil Governor and eommander-in-chief of the British forces in the West Indies, and was made lieutenant-general in 1830. In 1833 he succeed-