Kean, John, 1756-1795

<p>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.</p>

<p>Kean was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1756. He was raised in Beaufort County, South Carolina by his mother, Jane Grove and stepfather, Captain Samuel Grove, a wealthy and successful merchant.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>11/25/1788 SC District 02 Lost 0.24% (-99.06%)</li>
<li>12/31/1786 SC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1785 SC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1784 SC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

KEAN, John, (Great-grandfather of Hamilton Fish Kean, and John Kean [1852-1914], and great-great-grandfather of Robert Winthrop Kean), a Delegate from South Carolina; born in Charleston, S.C., in 1756; engaged in mercantile pursuits; taken prisoner at the capture of Charleston in 1780 by General Clinton and was confined aboard a prison ship for several months; appointed by General Washington a member of the commission to audit accounts of the Revolutionary Army; Member of the Continental Congress 1785-1787; appointed by President Washington cashier of the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia and served from its organization until his death in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 4, 1795; interment in St. John's Churchyard.