KEANE, John (1757-1829), of Belmont, co. Waterford.

Keane could play no other part than that of a nominee in either Parliament. He was initially returned for Bangor by Lord Grandison, duly going into opposition when his patron failed to be made governor of Waterford. In 1797 Lord Shannon returned him for Youghal and he remained thereafter a not particularly active member of the Shannon parliamentary squad. He supported the Union and, at Westminster, Addington’s administration, which made him a baronet.Procs. R. Irish Acad. lix. sec. C, no. 1 (1957), 25-26, 53; PRO 30/9/13, pt. 2.

While ensuing administrations claimed him as a supporter, they found him an unreliable attender. Edward Lee, while claiming that Keane supported ministers, thought fit to apply himself to government, though not a Member, for a favour for Keane’s brother in 1812.Add. 40221, f. 41; Sidmouth mss, Lee to Sidmouth, 11 Apr. 1812. He made no known speech, except to present his constituents’ petition against the corn trade bill, 14 June 1804, and evidence of his presence at Westminster is very thin. He was in the government minority on Melville’s censure, 8 Apr., and in the majority against Catholic claims, 14 May 1805. He was in the minority against Catholic relief on 2 Mar. 1813 and did not vote on the bill, 24 May.Add. 40283, f. 70. He was in the government majority on the civil list, 31 May 1815. In February 1817 the chief secretary was informed that he was living at Southampton and should be asked to pay a visit to Westminster.Add. 40263, f. 180. He turned up to vote with ministers on the Duke of Clarence’s marriage grant, 15 Apr. 1818. He did not seek re-election that year. Keane died 19 Apr. 1829.