Miles Gerald Keon facts for kids

Miles Gerald Keon (born February 20, 1821 – died June 3, 1875) was an Irish writer, journalist, and government official. He wrote novels and gave lectures during his life.

Early Life and Education

Miles Gerald Keon was born on February 20, 1821, in County Leitrim, Ireland. He was the last person in his family line from the Keons of Keonbrooke. His father, also named Myles Gerald Keon, was a lawyer. His mother's family, the Fallons, came from County Roscommon.

Sadly, both of Keon's parents passed away when he was very young. He was then raised by his grandmother. Later, his uncle, Francis Philip, Count Magawly, took care of him.

Keon went to school at Stonyhurst College, a Jesuit college. While he was there, he won a prize for a poem he wrote about Queen Victoria becoming queen.

Adventures After College

After finishing college, Keon went on an exciting trip across Europe. He traveled a lot on foot! For a short time, he even joined the French army in Algeria.

Career in Writing and Journalism

When Keon returned to England, he started studying law. However, he soon decided that writing was what he really wanted to do.

In 1843, he published a work called "The Irish Revolution." Two years later, in 1845, he wrote an article defending the Jesuits. This article caused a lot of discussion.

His travels and time in the army helped him write many articles. These were published in "Colburn's United Service Magazine" from 1845 to 1846.

Editor and Reporter

For a few months in 1846, Keon worked as the editor of "Dolman's Magazine." On November 21, 1846, he married Anne de la Pierre. Her father was an officer in the English army.

In 1847, Keon published a book called "Life of Saint Alexis, the Roman Patrician." For the next twelve years, he worked for The Morning Post newspaper. In 1850, he became their reporter in St. Petersburg, Russia.

His first novel, Harding, the Money-Spinner, was published in 1852. It appeared in parts in the London Journal. In 1856, he went back to St. Petersburg for The Morning Post. This was for the coronation of Alexander II of Russia. While there, he met Boucher de Perthes, who later wrote good things about Keon.

Government Service and Later Works

In 1859, Keon returned from Calcutta in British India. He had been sent there to edit a newspaper called "Bengal Hurkaru".

After returning, he was appointed colonial secretary in Bermuda. This was an important government job, and he held it until he passed away.

In 1866, his novel "Dion and the Sibyls, a romance of the First Century" was published. The next year, he gave a series of lectures in Hamilton, Bermuda. These lectures were about "Government, its Source, its Form, and its Means." He later chose not to lecture in the United States because of his official government position.

In 1869, he attended the opening of the First Vatican Council in Rome.