Kean, EDMUND, actor, was born in London, in Gray's Inn, 4th Nov. (some authorities say 17th Mar.) 1787. His parentage also is doubtful, for, though it is tolerably certain that Nance Carey, daughter of George Savile Carey, was his mother, it is quite uncertain who his father was. Kean is said to have declared himself to be an illegitimate son of the Duke of Norfolk, but common tradition assigns to him as parent either a tailor named Aaron Kean or a builder named Edmund Kean. Nance Carey being an actress, Kean from his infancy made occasional appearances upon the stage, and when about sixteen years old became a regular 'stroller,' playing in Richardson's show and other temples of the itinerant drama. After ten years' painful experience in various provincial circuits he succeeded in obtaining an engagement at Drury Lane Theatre, where he made his famous first appearance as Shylock on 26th January 1814. His success was immediate, and he at once took rank as the first actor of the day, displacing even John Philip Kemble, whose powers were by this time declining. A period of wonderful success followed; but unhappily Kean's irregularities were as great as his genius, and he gradually forfeited the public approval, his reputation being finally ruined by the cause célèbre of Cox v. Kean (January 1825). In this wretched case Kean was found guilty of misconduct with the wife of one Alderman Cox; and, although he seems to have been at least as much sinned against as sinning, a strange outburst of popular morality literally drove him off the stage, Edin- burgh particularly distinguishing itself in vigorous denunciation of the unfortunate actor. Kean then paid a long visit to America, where he had on a previous visit been very popular. He remained in America till the end of 1826, and on his return home was cordially received; but both mind and body had given way in his wild career, and he was the mere wreck of his former self. At last, on 25th March 1833, he broke down hopelessly, while playing Othello to the Iago of his son Charles, and never acted again. He died at Richmond on 15th May 1833. Regarding Kean's genius as an actor there can be no question. He was a master of passionate expression, and excelled in characters where the emotions are kept at highest tension. In level passages he was absolutely bad, and had no power to represent calm dignity; but in the mental agony of Othello, the wild passion of Shylock, or the cynical devilry of Richard he was unapproachable. No better idea of the irregular grandeur of his playing can be given than is contained in Coleridge's saying, that 'seeing Kean act was reading Shakespeare by flashes of lightning.' Kean's life has been written by Barry Cornwall (1835), F. W. Hawkins (1869), and J. F. Molloy (2 vols. 1888).
CHARLES JOHN, son of the foregoing, was born at Waterford, 18th January 1811. He was educated at Eton for one of the learned professions; but his father's extravagances and dissipations rendered it necessary that he should leave school and do something to support his mother and himself. He accordingly became an actor, in spite of the bitter opposition of his father, who swore that he himself would be the first and last tragedian of his name. Charles Kean made his first appearance, at Drury Lane, on 1st October 1827, in the character of Young Norval, and was received by the critics with almost universal condemnation. But he worked assiduously in the provinces, and studied hard, until in time he attained a fair position in his profession, his efforts being greatly aided by the genius of Ellen Tree, whom in 1842 he married. In 1850 Kean became joint-lessee with Keeley of the Princess's Theatre in Oxford Street, London, and here he produced the long series of gorgeous 'revivals' which were the most conspicuous feature of his career. In these, it is to be feared, upholstery was more studied than acting. In 1859 he retired from management, and virtually from the London stage, though he played in America and the provinces to within a few months of his death. His last appearance was made in Liverpool on 29th May 1867, and he died in London 22d January 1868. His wife died 21st August 1880. As a tragic actor Kean was not in the first or even the second rank, but he was admirable in melodrama, and his acting in such plays as The Corsican Brothers and Louis XI. could scarcely be surpassed. See his Life by J. W. Cole (2 vols. 1860).