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Capt. Abram Kean (July 8, 1855 – May 18, 1945) was a controversial sealing captain and politician from Flowers Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. He was famous for his success in sealing, with capturing over a million pelts, and infamous for his role in sending 78 men to their deaths in the 1914 Newfoundland Sealing Disaster.〔("1914 Sealing Disaster", ''Heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador'' ). Heritage.nf.ca.〕 He embarked upon a career in the Newfoundland cod fishery at the age of 18 but quickly shifted his interests to the seal fishery in which he spent the vast majority of his marine career. Kean was a very relevant part of The Commission of Enquiry report regarding the 1914 Sealing Disaster, which was submitted on February 27, 1915 to Hon. Justice Johnson in St. John's, Newfoundland. In 1917, he was named skipper of the Royal Naval Reserve in St. John's by the British Emperor. In the 1920s and 1930s, he ran in the Newfoundland general elections. Once elected he was subsequently appointed to the upper house of Newfoundland, which played a similar role as the Canadian Senate. ==Early life== Abram Kean was born on July 8, 1855 in the small community of Flower’s Island in Newfoundland. Kean was the youngest son of Joseph and Jane Kean.〔Kean, ''Old and Young Ahead'', p. 19.〕 Growing up in such a small town and community, Kean was deprived, like many children in Flower's Island, of knowing the importance of education and schooling. However, on May 1, 1863 Kean was sent to Pools Island, a town away to attend school.〔Kean, ''Old and Young Ahead'', p. 24.〕 He was the first child in his family to be sent to school in order to get a proper education. While on Pools Island, Kean lived with his uncle with whom he developed a strong friendship. After four years of schooling, Kean returned home on May 1, 1867.〔Kean, ''Old and Young Ahead'', p. 30.〕 When Kean was twelve, his mother caught tuberculosis, devastating the entire family.〔Mullaly, p. 17.〕 Kean was the only literate child, so he read to her to alleviate her suffering. Kean had a close relationship with both of his parents, which intensified the impact of his mother’s sickness. Jane Kean died at 54 years of age.〔Kean, ''Old and Young Ahead'', p. 39.〕 After the death of his mother, Kean’s father, Joseph, retired and bestowed fishing schooners upon each of his sons. In 1871 at the age of 17, Kean met his wife Caroline Yetman 〔Kean, ''Old and Young Ahead'', p. 41.〕 who his father had hired as a housekeeper shortly after the death of his wife. Abram and Caroline were married on October 19, 1872 in Greenspond. Eleven months after their marriage, their first son, Westbury, was born. The couple had six sons and two daughters.〔Kean, ''Old and Young Ahead'', p. 46.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Abram Kean」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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