John Keane, 1st Baron Keane

For other people named John Keane, see John Keane (disambiguation).

John Keane, 1st Baron Keane
Born	6 February 1781 (1781-02-06) Offaly, Ireland
Died	24 August 1844 (1844-08-25) (aged 63) Hampshire, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Bombay Army
Battles/wars	Peninsular War War of 1812 First Anglo-Afghan War Anglo Marri war
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order

Lieutenant General John Keane, 1st Baron Keane GCB GCH (6 February 1781 – 24 August 1844) was an Irish soldier in the British Army.

Background

Keane was born in Belmont, Ireland, the second son of Sir John Keane, 1st Baronet. He joined the British Army as an Ensign at age 11 in 1792. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 60th Foot and commanded a brigade in the Peninsular War. For his services there, he was awarded the Army Gold Cross with two clasps for Martinique, Vitoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, the Nive, and Toulouse. Promoted to Major-General, Keane commanded the British 3rd brigade at the Battle of New Orleans where he was wounded twice. He served as commander-in-chief in the West Indies and also administered the colonial government of Jamaica.

Actions

Lieutenant-General Keane served as Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army from 1834 to 1840 and commanded the combined British and British Indian army ("The Army of the Indus") during the opening campaign of the First Anglo-Afghan War and first Anglo Marri war. In February 1839, his forces seized Karachi. He commanded the victorious British and Indian army at the Battle of Ghazni on 23 July 1839. For his service, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Keane, of Ghuznee and of Cappoquin in the County of Waterford on 23 December 1839.

Personal life

John Keane married twice, first to Grace Smith, daughter of Lieutenant General Sir John Smith, whom he married in 1806, then second to Charlotte Maria Boland, the daughter of a Colonel Boland in 1840. From his marriage with Grace Smith the couple had six children:

• Edward Arthur Wellington Keane (1815–1882), 2nd Baron Keane
• John Manly Arbuthnot Keane (1816–1901, 3rd Baron Keane
• George Disney Keane (26 September 1817 – 19 October 1891), married Katherine Mary McLeod on 13 July 1881
• Hussey Fane Keane (14 June 1822 – 26 October 1895), married Isabella Emma Elizabeth, daughter of the 5th Earl of Orkney on 11 January 1886
• Charlotte Amelia Keane (d. 22 June 1859)
• Georgiana Isabella Keane (d. 14 April 1854), married W.H. Penrose

Lord Keane died at Burton Lodge, Hampshire, England, on 24 August 1844.

See also

• Keane Baronets
• Baron Keane

External links

• First Afghan War - www.national-army-museum.ac.uk

Government offices
Preceded by Edward O'Hara	Governor of Saint Lucia 1818–1819	Succeeded by John Joseph Winkler
Preceded by The Duke of Manchester	Governor of Jamaica (acting) 1827–1829	Succeeded by The Earl of Belmore
Military offices
Preceded by Sir Colin Halkett	C-in-C, Bombay Army 1834–1840	Succeeded by Sir Thomas McMahon
Preceded by Sir Henry Warde	Colonel of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) 1831–1838	Succeeded by Sir William Johnston
Preceded by Henry Wynyard	Colonel of the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot 1838–1839	Succeeded by John Ross
Preceded by John Cradock, 1st Baron Howden	Colonel of the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) 1839–1844	Succeeded by Sir Hercules Robert Pakenham
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Baron Keane 1839–1844	Succeeded by Edward Arthur Wellington Keane