Kean

Kean, Charles John (1811-68), the second son of Edmund, was born probably at Waterford, and educated at Eton. He quarrelled with his father with regard to his treatment of Mrs. Kean, but afterwards played with him. In 1827 he made his debut at Drury Lane in Douglas, and was fairly successful, and first acted with his father at Glasgow in October of the following year, Edmund playing Brutus and his son Titus in Howard Payne's Brutus. In 1829 Charles Kean acted in Holland, and in the following years played with some success in America his father's great part of Richard. In 1838 Charles Kean declined an engagement offered him by Macready, and the following year again visited America. In 1842 he married Ellen Tree, with whom he was playing in Romeo and Juliet at the Haymarket. After an engagement at Drury Lane and a third American visit the Keans reappeared at the Haymarket for several seasons. In 1850 Kean became part manager of the Princess's, and in the following year as sole manager began his spectacular revivals, among which were King John, Macbeth, Byron's Sardanapalus, and King Henry VIII. In 1859 he gave up the management of the Princess's, and in the same year a public banquet was given in his honour. In 1861 he began a season at Drury Lane, and after his farewell next year went round the world. In 1866 he again appeared in London, and took leave of the stage at Liverpool in 1867, in his best part, Louis XI. (Boucicault).