Kean, John, 1756-1795

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John Kean (1756 – May 4, 1795) was an American merchant, banker and member of the Continental Congress from South Carolina who was the first in a long line of American politicians from his family. He notably served as a Delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and as the first cashier of the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia.

Born in Charleston in the Province of South Carolina, Kean was raised in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Kean apprenticed with his stepfather's business partner, Peter Lavien, learning business and bookkeeping. By the time of the American Revolutionary War, Kean was a prominent merchant in his home state of South Carolina. During the War, he served as deputy paymaster of the South Carolina Militia under paymaster Daniel de Saussure. Kean was taken prisoner during the Siege of Charleston in 1780 by General Sir Henry Clinton. Kean was detained as a prisoner of war at sea, along with de Saussure's son, Henry William de Saussure, where Kean was confined aboard for several months leading to his development a respiratory disease. Upon his release, Kean was appointed a member of the commission to audit accounts of the Revolutionary Army by General Washington.

Kean served as a delegate for South Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1787, advocating for ratification of the United States Constitution at South Carolina's ratifying convention. After General Washington became the first President of the United States, he appointed Kean cashier of the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia following that body's 1791 chartering. John Kean died in Philadelphia from the respiratory disease he developed during the Revolution. He was interred in that city's St. John’s Churchyard.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Jones, William, 1760-1831. Bank of the United States Records, 1790-1842 (inclusive). Porterville Public Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Kean, Jefferson Randolph, 1860-1950. Papers of Jefferson Randolph Kean, 1765-1938. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Hamilton, Alexander, 1755-1804. Correspondence and documents, 1777-1800. Houghton Library
creatorOf Kean, John, 1756-1795. John Kean papers, 1788-1794. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Fairbanks mss., 1819-1939 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Gilman, John Taylor, 1753-1828. John Taylor Gilman papers, 1780-1791. Library of Congress
referencedIn Bank of the United States (1791-1811). Boston Branch (Boston, Mass.). Bank of the United States (1791-1811). : Boston Branch (Boston, Mass.) records, 1792-1794. Harvard Business School, Knowledge and Library Services/Baker Library
creatorOf Croghan, William, 1752-1823. Order : to John Kean, cashier of the Bank of the United States, 1791 Dec. 16. Newberry Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Huntington, Ebenezer, 1754-1834. Power of attorney : to John Kean, 1793 Aug. 7. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
creatorOf McClurg, James, 1746-1823. [Letter, 17]92 Jul. 28, Richmond, [Vir., to] John Kean / Jas McClurg. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800. Family papers, 1768-1877 Houghton Library
creatorOf Rutledge, John, 1739-1800. Letter to John Kean, 8 December 1787. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bank of the United States (1791-1811) corporateBody
correspondedWith Burrall, Jonathan person
associatedWith Croghan, William, 1752-1823. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fairbanks, Charles W. (Charles Warren), 1852-1918 person
associatedWith Gilman, John Taylor, 1753-1828. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804 person
associatedWith Huntington, Ebenezer, 1754-1834. person
correspondedWith Izard, Ralph, 1742-1804 person
ancestorOf Kean, Hamilton Fish, 1862-1941 person
associatedWith Kean, Jefferson Randolph, 1860-1950. person
ancestorOf Kean, John, 1852-1914 person
parentOf Kean, Peter, 1787 or 1788-1828 person
ancestorOf Kean, Robert Winthrop, 1893- person
ancestorOf Kean, Thomas H. person
subordinateOf Lavien, Peter. person
correspondedWith Leroy & Bayard (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
child-in-law of Livingston, William, 1723-1790 person
associatedWith McClurg, James, 1746-1823. person
correspondedWith Read, Jacob, 1752-1816 person
associatedWith Rutledge, John, 1739-1800. person
correspondedWith Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800 person
associatedWith United States. Continental Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Beaufort County SC US
Charleston SC US
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Slavery
Banks and banking
Debtor and creditor
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Federal Government Official
Merchants
Activity

Person

Birth 1756

Death 1795-05-04

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

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