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. Early life 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. Career 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. During the War, he served as deputy paymaster of the South Carolina Militia under paymaster Daniel de Saussure. Kean was taken prisoner during the Siege of Charleston in 1780 by General Sir Henry Clinton. Kean was detained as a prisoner of war at sea, along with de Saussure's son, Henry William de Saussure, where Kean was confined aboard for several months leading to his development a respiratory disease. Upon his release, Kean was appointed a member of the commission to audit accounts of the Revolutionary Army by General Washington. Kean also served as a delegate for South Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1787. Kean advocated ratification of the United States Constitution at South Carolina's ratifying convention. Kean compiled "actual enumerations" of the population of the 13 states for consideration at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a precursor to the U.S. Census. After General Washington became the first President of the United States, he appointed Kean cashier of the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia which he served at until his death. Personal life In 1789, Kean was married to Susan Livingston (1759–1853) of the prominent northern Livingston family. Susan was the daughter of Peter Van Brugh Livingston, the New York State Treasurer, and Mary (née Alexander) Livingston. She was also the granddaughter of Philip Livingston, the 2nd Lord of Livingston Manor, and the niece of New Jersey's governor William Livingston, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Together, they were the parents of one child: Peter Philip James Kean (1788–1828), who married Sarah Sabina Morris (1788–1878), a granddaughter of Lewis Morris. Kean died at age 39 on May 4, 1795, in Philadelphia from the respiratory disease he developed during the Revolution. He was interred in St. John’s Churchyard in Philadelphia. Following his