Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/798

 778 KEAN KEARNY His countenance was capable of wonderful variety and intensity of expression, and his action, which, as well as his conceptions of character, was the result of deep study, lifted him far above the ordinary heroes of the stage. He possessed vigor, pathos, sarcasm, and the power of communicating terror in the highest degree; and his intensity in expressing all the passions has never been excelled. His biogra- phy was written by B. W. Procter (Barry Corn- wall) (2 vols. 8vo, London, 1835). II. Charles John, an English actor, son of the preceding, born in Waterford, Ireland, Jan. 18, 1811, died in London, Jan. 22, 1868. He was educated at Eton, whence he was withdrawn at the age of 16 in consequence of the refusal of his father to maintain him longer at school, the son hav- ing incurred his displeasure by declining the offer of a cadetship in India in order to look after the wants of his mother. In this emer- gency Charles Kean determined to adopt the stage as a profession, and on Oct. 1, 1827, made his debut at Drury Lane in the character of Young Norval. His success was not striking, and for several years he made no impression upon the public. In 1830 he visited the United States, and after his return to England in 1833 began by degrees to assume the position of a leading actor in London. In 1839 he revisited America, returning to England in the follow- ing year ; and in 1842 he was married to the actress Ellen Tree. In 1845 he made a third visit to the United States, performing with his wife in the chief cities for upward of two years. For several years after his return he played engagements at the principal theatres in London and the provinces, and in 1850 he became the sole lessee of the Princess's thea- tre, where for a number of seasons he produced splendid revivals of " Macbeth," "King John," " Richard III.," " Richard II.," the " Tempest," and other Shakespearian plays. As an actor he held a respectable position. As a stage mana- ger he exhibited good taste and abundant re- sources, and was for several years the director of the theatrical performances at Windsor cas- tle. In 1863 he made with his wife a profes- sional tour to Australia, returning in 1866 by way of California. In 1859 appeared the "Life of Charles Kean," by J. W. Cole (2 vols. 8vo, London). HI. Ellen (Tree), an English actress, wife of the preceding, born in London in 1805. She first appeared upon tho stage at Covent Garden theatre, London, in 1823, and within a few years became one of the leading members of her profession, excelling both in comedy and tragedy. In December, 1836, she made her d6but upon the American stage at New York, and subsequently acted with success in the chief cities of the United States and Canada. In 1842 she was married to Charles Kean, with whom she continued to appear down to the time of his death, when she retired from the stage. Among her most popular characters were Beatrice in " Much Ado about Nothing," Rosalind in " As You Like It," Portia in the "Merchant of Venice," Viola in "Twelfth Night," Julia in "The Hunchback," and Mrs. Haller in " The Stranger." hi:K, John, first Lord Keane, a British general, born at Belmont, county Waterford, Ireland, in 1781, died at Burton Lodge, Hamp- shire, England, Aug. 24, 1844. He entered the British army as ensign in his 13th year, and during the campaign in Egypt acted as aide-de-camp to Lord Cavan. He served in Spain, where he gained the rank of major gen- eral. In the autumn of 1814 he was appoint- ed to command the land forces destined to attack New Orleans, but was superseded by Sir Edward Pakenham, under whom however he continued to serve, and was twice severely wounded. From 1823 to 1830 he was com- mander-in-chief of the West Indian army, and during a part of that period administered also the civil government of Jamaica. In 1833 he was sent to India, and in 1839 captured the fortress of Ghuznee in Afghanistan, till then deemed impregnable. For this exploit he was raised to the peerage as Baron Keane, in De- cember, 1839, and received from the East India company a pension of 2,000. KEARNEY, a S. county of Nebraska, bounded N. by the Platte river; area, about 525 sq. in. ; pop. in 1870, 58. A large portion is occupied by prairies. The Burlington and Missouri River railroad traverses it. Capital, Fort Kearney. KEARNY. I. Lawrence, an American naval officer, born in Perth Amboy, N. J., Nov. 30, 1789, died there, Nov. 29, 1868. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1807. When the war with Great Britain broke out he was first lieutenant of the Enterprise, and in her he was wrecked while on a cruise from New Orleans in 1812. After the war he distinguished him- self in clearing the West Indies and the gulf coast of pirates. In 1827 he sailed as command- er in the ship Warren for the Mediterranean, where he attacked the Greek pirates, broke up their rendezvous, and dispersed them. At one time he had more than 109 pirates in chains on board his ship. Becoming a captain in 1832, ho took command of the East India squadron in 1841, greatly promoted American interests in China, and returned home in 1844. He was made a commodore in 1866. II. Stephen Watts, an American soldier, born in Newark, N. J., Aug. 30, 1794, died in St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 31, 1848. He entered the army in 1812, in 1833 became lieutenant colonel of dragoons, in 1836 colonel, and in June, 1846, a brigadier general. At the commencement of the Mex- ican war he commanded the " army of the West," which inarched from Bent's fort on the Arkansas westward, and conquered New Mex- ico. Having established a provisional civil government in Santa Fe he proceeded to Cali- fornia, and in December participated with his command in the battle of San Pascual, where he was twice wounded. He subsequently com- manded the sailors and marines and a detach- ment of dragoons in the battles of San Gabriel