Kean, Charles John, 1811?-1868

Charles Kean was a Shakespearean actor. He was married to the actress Ellen Tree Kean.

From the description of Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1849. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155886057

English actor and theater manager Charles Kean was the second son of actor Edmund Kean. An excellent student, Charles was compelled to become an actor to support his family after the separation of his parents. He found success as an actor in Ireland and America, and finally in England. A detail-oriented actor with modest physical gifts, he was a pioneer in the realistic approach to acting, and successfully staged a series of Shakespearian revivals. He was married to actress Ellen Tree.

From the description of Charles Kean letters, 1845-1851. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 60388293

English actor.

From the description of Autograph letter signed, dated : Belfast, 30 December 1860, to [Edward Tyrrell] Smith, 1860 Dec. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270578780

From the description of Autograph letter signed : London, to Calcraft, 1843 Oct. 17. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270881291

Irish actor.

From the description of Autograph note, signed, at end of letter to him written by Sir C.B. Phipps for Queen Victoria, 1853 Mar. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270492550

From the description of Autograph letter signed, 1857 Aug. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270485575

Son of noted actor Edmund Kean, Charles Keane (1811–1868) began acting at a young age to support his mother after his father left the family. Despite early criticism, Keane rose to prominence and won success with an 1838 production of Hamlet . He married fellow actress Ellen Tree in 1848 and eventually became known as one of most versatile actors of his era. The Keans managed the Princesses's Theater where they became known for meticulously staged plays incorporating innovations in production techniques.

M. Glen Wilson, "Kean, Charles John (1811–1868)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/15203 (accessed August, 16 2007).

From the guide to the Charles Kean letter to J. Webster, 1839 March 3, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)

Charles John Kean was an English actor-manager best known for his revivals of Shakespearean plays. The son of the famed actor Edmund Kean, he was educated at Eton and made his debut as Young Norval in Douglas in London in 1827. He toured the provinces extensively but first won general acceptance during an American tour in 1830. Returning to England, he steadily gained in reputation with well-honed performances, most notably as Sir Giles Overreach in Philip Massinger's A New Way to Pay Old Debts, in Hamlet and Richard III, and as the melancholy Jaques in As You Like It. Although handicapped by poor vocal projection and an unprepossessing physical appearance, Kean compensated by perfecting the details of each performance. As manager of the Princess's Theatre (1850-1859) in London, he staged a series of successful Shakespearean revivals that were notable for their historical accuracy. His 1856 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was especially well received. His first appearance with his father, who originally had discouraged his theatrical ambition, was in John Howard Payne's Brutus in Glasgow in 1828. He was playing Iago to his father's Othello in 1833 when the elder Kean collapsed on stage in his final performance. Charles frequently appeared opposite Ellen Tree (1805-1880), whom he married in 1842. Their adoptive daughter, the actress Agnes Robertson (1833-1916), made her debut at the Princess's Theatre in 1851. Encyclopedia Britannica Online http://search.ed.com/eb/article-9044951 (Retrived March 14, 2009)

Sir George Charles D'Aguilar was an army officer and the second son of Joseph D'Aguilar, formerly a captain in the 2nd dragoon guards (Queen's Bays), and later of Liverpool. Born at Winchester in January 1874, he joined the army as an ensign in the 86th regiment on 24 September 1799, and joined his regiment in India, where he remained for eight years. In 1896 he served in the siege of Bharatpur by Lord Lake, and was severely wounded in the last unsuccessful assault; in 1808 he was promoted captain into the 81st regiment, which he joined in England in May 1809. In the same month he married Eliza, second daughter of Peter Drinkwater of Irwell House, Manchester. They had several children, including General Sir Charles Lawrence D'Aguilar KCB, and officer distinguished in the Crimean War. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography http://www.oxforddnb.com (Retrieved March 24, 2009)

From the description of Charles Kean letter to Colonel D'Aguliar, 14 January 1840. (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 351487090