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John Kean (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
John Kean was an American
lawyer, banker and Republican Party
politician from Elizabeth, New Jersey
. He represented New Jersey
in the U.S. Senate
from 1899 to 1911 and served two separate terms in the United States House of Representatives
, from 1883 to 1885, and from 1887 to 1889. A member of the Kean family of politicians, his great-grandfather, John Kean
, had been a delegate to the Continental Congress
for South Carolina
, his brother was US Senator Hamilton Fish Kean
, his nephew was US Representative Robert Winthrop Kean and his great-nephew was Governor Thomas Kean
.
, then called "Ursino", near Elizabeth, New Jersey
, he studied in private schools and attended Yale College
. He graduated from the Columbia Law School
, New York City
, in 1875, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1877, but did not engage in extensive practice.
He worked in banking and manufacturing before entering politics. He was elected as a Republican to the 48th United States Congress
(March 4, 1883 - March 4, 1885) to represent New Jersey's 3rd congressional district
, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1884.
He was elected to the 50th United States Congress
(March 4, 1887 - March 4, 1889), and again was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1888. He was named Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
in 1891, resigning the following year to run as the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
. He lost the 1892 gubernatorial race to Democrat George Theodore Werts
. He was a member of the committee to revise the judiciary system of New Jersey.
He was elected to the United States Senate
in 1899 and reelected in 1905, serving in the Senate from March 4, 1899 to March 4, 1911. He was chairman of the Committee on the Geological Survey (Fifty-seventh United States Congress) and Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses (Fifty-eighth United States Congress through Sixty-first United States Congress).
After politics, he re-engaged in banking in Elizabeth, New Jersey
. He died at "Ursino" and was interred in Evergreen Cemetery
, in Hillside, New Jersey
.
Keansburg, New Jersey
is named in honor of John Kean. In 1884, Kean played a key part in helping the town, at the time called Granville, to obtain its first post office. During that year, the name Keansburg was adopted.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, banker and Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. He represented New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1899 to 1911 and served two separate terms in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, from 1883 to 1885, and from 1887 to 1889. A member of the Kean family of politicians, his great-grandfather, John Kean
John Kean (South Carolina)
John Kean was an American merchant from Charleston, South Carolina. He was a delegate for South Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1787 and advocated ratification of the United States Constitution at South Carolina's ratifying convention...
, had been a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
for South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, his brother was US Senator Hamilton Fish Kean
Hamilton Fish Kean
Hamilton Fish Kean was a U.S. senator from New Jersey.Kean was the son of Lucy and John Kean. He was related to several prominent American politicians including his great-grandfather John Kean , his brother John Kean , and his son Robert Kean...
, his nephew was US Representative Robert Winthrop Kean and his great-nephew was Governor Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
.
Biography
Born at Liberty Hall at present-day Kean UniversityKean University
Kean University is a coeducational, public research university located in Union and Hillside, New Jersey, United States. Kean University serves its students in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions with a dedication to intellectual and cultural growth and is best known for its...
, then called "Ursino", near Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, he studied in private schools and attended Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
. He graduated from the Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in 1875, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1877, but did not engage in extensive practice.
He worked in banking and manufacturing before entering politics. He was elected as a Republican to the 48th United States Congress
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
(March 4, 1883 - March 4, 1885) to represent New Jersey's 3rd congressional district
New Jersey's 3rd congressional district
New Jersey's Third Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Jon Runyan. It is a swing district, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+1. Former NFL player Republican Jon Runyan defeated John Adler in the 2010 House elections...
, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1884.
He was elected to the 50th United States Congress
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
(March 4, 1887 - March 4, 1889), and again was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1888. He was named Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee:*1880-1891: Garret Augustus Hobart*1891-1892: John Kean*1892-1904: Franklin Murphy*1904-1907: Frank Obadiah Briggs*1907-1910: Franklin Murphy*1910-1913: Frank Obadiah Briggs...
in 1891, resigning the following year to run as the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. He lost the 1892 gubernatorial race to Democrat George Theodore Werts
George Theodore Werts
George Theodore Werts was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 28th Governor of New Jersey from 1893 to 1896...
. He was a member of the committee to revise the judiciary system of New Jersey.
He was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1899 and reelected in 1905, serving in the Senate from March 4, 1899 to March 4, 1911. He was chairman of the Committee on the Geological Survey (Fifty-seventh United States Congress) and Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses (Fifty-eighth United States Congress through Sixty-first United States Congress).
After politics, he re-engaged in banking in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. He died at "Ursino" and was interred in Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside
Evergreen Cemetery and Crematory is a cemetery and crematorium located at 1137 North Broad Street, Hillside, New Jersey. Parts of it are in Hillside, Elizabeth, and Newark. The cemetery is listed on both the New Jersey Register and the National Register of Historic Places, since 1991.Notable graves...
, in Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 21,404.Hillside was incorporated as a township on April 3, 1913, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1913.The town...
.
Keansburg, New Jersey
Keansburg, New Jersey
Keansburg is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,105.Keansburg was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1917, from portions of both Middletown Township and Raritan Township ,...
is named in honor of John Kean. In 1884, Kean played a key part in helping the town, at the time called Granville, to obtain its first post office. During that year, the name Keansburg was adopted.
External links
- Biography from John Kean at the Political Graveyard