Kean Edmund

Kean, Edmund (1787-1833), one of the greatest of English tragedians, was the son of a certain Anne Corey, who was said to be descended from ) Savile, Lord Halifax (q.v.). In 1801 he played in King John at Drury Lane with J. P. Kemble and Mrs. Siddons; but soon after he ran away, and, while acting as a tumbler in Saunders' circus, broke both his legs. In 1806 he made an appearance at the Haymarket, but, being refused an engagement by Kemble, betook himself to the provinces, acting again with Mrs. Siddons. It was not till 1814 that he obtained his first important engagement in London. His appearance at Drury Lane in that year as Shylock was perhaps the most successful debut of a great actor. During this season be also played Richard III. (probably his greatest part), Hamlet, Othello, and Iago. His acting was highly appreciated by judges such as Hazlitt and Coleridge. He also played in the provinces these and parts in modern plays, and on Kemble's retirement in 1817 was recognised as king of the stage. In April, 1820, he impersonated Lear with success, and in tbu same year he paid his first visit to America, where at New York, Philadelphia, and Boston he repeated his successes. The irregularity of his private life temporarily interrupted them. In 1825 he wan howled down in London and in several Scotch towns, and in America also, his life even being in danger at Boston. In 1827, however, he reappeared at Drury Lane, and in the same year began an engagement at Covent Garden, which lasted for two years. He then returned to Drury Lane, but now began to lose his memory. He died in 1833.