Global InformationBenjamin Keene information
Sir Benjamin Keene FRS, KB | |
|---|---|
 Sir Benjamin Keene | |
| British Ambassador to Spain | |
| In office 1749–1757 | |
| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | Vacant War of Jenkins' Ear |
| Succeeded by | Earl of Bristol |
| Ambassador to Portugal | |
| In office 1745–1749 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Crompton |
| Succeeded by | Abraham Castres |
| MP for West Looe | |
| In office 1741–1747 | |
| MP for Maldon | |
| In office January 1740 – April 1741 | |
| British Ambassador to Spain | |
| In office 1729–1739 | |
| Preceded by | Anglo-Spanish War |
| Succeeded by | War of Jenkins' Ear |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ca 1697 King's Lynn, Norfolk |
| Died | 15 December 1757 (aged 72) Madrid, Spain |
| Resting place | St Nicholas's Chapel, Kings Lynn, Norfolk[1] |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Whigs |
| Parent(s) | Charles Keene (1674–?) Susan Rolfe (? – 1753) |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge Leiden University |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Committees | Board of Trade 1741–1744 Paymaster of Pensions 1745–1746 |
Sir Benjamin Keene (1697–1757) was a British diplomat, who was British Ambassador to Spain from 1729 to 1739, then again from 1748 until his death in Madrid in December 1757. He has been described as "by far the most prominent British agent in Anglo-Spanish relations of the 18th century".[2]
First appointed Consul General to Spain in 1724, he became Ambassador five years later, when he negotiated the 1729 Treaty of Seville ending the 1727 to 1729 Anglo-Spanish War. He later agreed the 1739 Convention of Pardo resolving trade and boundary issues in the Caribbean, but political opposition in England meant it was never ratified, leading to the 1739 to 1748 War of Jenkins' Ear.
On returning to England, he was elected Member of Parliament from 1740 to 1741 for Maldon, then for West Looe until 1747. He was appointed to the Board of Trade in 1741 and made Paymaster of Pensions in 1745; he found political life less interesting than diplomacy and in 1745 transferred to Lisbon as Ambassador to Portugal.
Following the 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, he returned to Madrid where his influence kept Spain neutral when the Seven Years' War began in 1756. His importance was such that he was kept in post until his death in December 1757, despite several requests he be allowed to retire due to ill-health. Although his successor lacked the same influence, Spain did not join the war against Britain until 1762, a major factor in British victory.
- ^ "M6012; Sir Benjamin Keene". Maritime Memorials. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ Lodge 1932, p. 5.