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45:
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itself was marginally profitable and has been described as a 'commercial illusion'; between 1717 and 1733, only eight ships were sent from
Britain to the Americas. The real benefit was in carrying smuggled goods that evaded customs duties, demand from Spanish colonists creating a large and profitable
436:
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
726:
ended the war, Keene resumed his position in Madrid; he quickly developed a good relationship with
Ferdinand and his ministers, who shared Newcastle's aim of moving Spain away from France and closer to Britain. In October 1750, Keene helped negotiate the
595:, which viewed trade as a finite resource. This meant an increase in Britain's share was at the expense of Spain's and wars were often fought over commercial issues. Utrecht had also confirmed British possession of the Spanish ports of
1519:
472:
747:
715:
was to open negotiations with the new
Spanish regime, although his talks with the Marqués de Tabuérniga made little progress, largely because Britain refused to consider the return of
777:. Keene was now in poor health, but his request to be relieved was rejected since he was considered too valuable to British interests. He died in Madrid in 1757, and was replaced by
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360:
1539:
708:
422:
112:
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508:
1097:
Lodge, Richard (1932). "Presidential
Address: Sir Benjamin Keene, K.B.: A Study in Anglo-Spanish Relations in the Earlier Part of the Eighteenth Century".
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1554:
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Both his father and uncle
Benjamin served as Mayor of King's Lynn, as did his grandfather Edmund Rolfe (1640–1726). Rolfe was also election agent for
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568:. The company was acquired by the British government after going bankrupt in the 1720 'South Sea Bubble' and became a state enterprise.
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Will of His
Excellency, Sir Benjamin Keene, His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Catholic King of Madrid
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in
December 1757. He has been described as "by far the most prominent British agent in Anglo-Spanish relations of the 18th century".
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in 1741 and made
Paymaster of Pensions in 1745; he found political life less interesting than diplomacy and in 1745 transferred to
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The
Spanish resented being forced to open their colonial markets, partly due to the prevailing economic theory of
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KEENE, Benjamin (1753–1837), of Westoe Lodge, Cambs in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754–1790
615:
379:
584:, either for sale locally or re-exported to the colonies, Spanish dye and wool going the other way. A leading
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Keene's personal correspondence shows he did not enjoy Parliamentary life, and he was happy to be appointed
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from 1721 to 1742; this connection helped the careers of both Benjamin and his younger brother.
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The South Sea Company was established to hold commercial rights awarded to Britain in the 1713
394:, but political opposition in England meant it was never ratified, leading to the 1739 to 1748
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KEENE, Benjamin (c.1697–1757) in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715–1754
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Mobilizing Resources for War: The Intelligence Systems during the War of Jenkins' Ear
580:. There was also a significant legitimate trade; British goods were imported through
457:
452:, eldest son of Charles Keene (1675–?) and Susan Rolfe (?–1753). His younger brother
1203:. The Cambridge Naval and Military Series. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press.
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succeeded Ferdinand in 1759, and in 1762 he entered the war on the side of France.
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Europe in the Eighteenth Century, 1713–1783 : (A General History of Europe)
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The Insatiable Earl: A Life of John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich, 1718–1792
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742:, in which the three countries agreed to recognise each other's boundaries in
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Three Victories and a Defeat: The Rise and Fall of the First British Empire
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Keene was unmarried and left his estate to his brother Edmund; his nephew
773:, in which Austria allied with France, Spain initially stayed out of the
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432:, he returned to Madrid where his influence kept Spain neutral when the
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in 1724, he became Ambassador five years later, when he negotiated the
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537:(1674–1738) who spotted Keene's talents and sent him to Madrid in 1723
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in 1718 and completed his legal studies at the Dutch university of
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in 1745. Since Britain and Spain were still at war, his role in
1343:
Sir Benjamin Keene's papers, GB/NNAF/P150670, National Archives
603:; their desire to regain them was a factor in the 1718 to 1720
1247:"British Foreign Policy During the Seven Years' War (1749-63)"
731:, which resolved commercial issues between the two countries.
588:
merchant called the trade 'the best flower in our garden.'
363:
from 1729 to 1739, then again from 1748 until his death in
758:. His achievements were recognised with the award of the
1520:
Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for West Looe
1076:
Norfolk lists, from the Reformation to the present time
766:, presented to him by Ferdinand at a special ceremony.
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JSTOR The Private Correspondence of Sir Benjamin Keene
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507:. Family connections brought him to the notice of
1227:"Mercantilism as the Economic Side of Absolutism"
1184:The Private Correspondence of Sir Benjamin Keene
665:, then Paymaster of Pensions from 1745 to 1746.
637:in 1739, he returned to London, and was elected
1190:, Vol. 49, No. 194 (Apr. 1934), pp. 344–45
769:Although Newcastle failed to prevent the 1756
696:, who saw this as an opportunity to break the
614:Keene's first major role was to negotiate the
1130:(2015 ed.). Cambridge University Press.
8:
1322:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1278:The Birth of a Great Power System, 1740-1815
1151:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1099:Transactions of the Royal Historical Society
866:
661:; from 1741 to 1744, he was a member of the
545:, allowing access to the closed markets of
390:resolving trade and boundary issues in the
1550:Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath
1505:People educated at King Edward VII Academy
1376:
746:. In 1754 he helped remove the pro-French
680:, who had a strong relationship with Keene
43:
20:
1145:Mercer, M (2004). "Keene, Sir Benjamin".
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1540:Ambassadors of Great Britain to Portugal
1271:(Online ed.). Boydell & Brewer.
1178:(Online ed.). Boydell & Brewer.
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878:
750:, who was replaced as prime minister by
700:, and improve Britain's position in the
401:On returning to England, he was elected
355:(1697–1757) was a British diplomat from
1319:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1172:Namier, Lewis; Brooke, J, eds. (1964).
1148:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
793:
781:, who did not have the same influence;
445:Benjamin Keene was born around 1697 in
902:
842:
653:administration, he was re-elected for
1545:Ambassadors of Great Britain to Spain
1510:Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge
1316:Mercer, M. J. "Keene, Sir Benjamin".
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622:; credit for the treaty was taken by
560:, permitting limited direct sales in
7:
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523:in 1723, first as an officer of the
413:until 1747. He was appointed to the
1057:The War of the Austrian Succession
779:George Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol
607:, as well Spanish support for the
556:to supply 5,000 slaves a year and
183:January 1740 – April 1741
14:
1092:(PHD). University College London.
1555:Members of Parliament for Maldon
1078:. Matchett, Stevenson, Matchett.
1074:Ewing, William Creasey (1837).
754:, former Spanish ambassador in
342:Paymaster of Pensions 1745–1746
1348:Portrait of Sir Benjamin Keene
1200:The navy in the war of 1739–48
1128:Trade and Peace with Old Spain
1083:Ibañez, Ignacio Rivas (2008).
702:War of the Austrian Succession
384:1727 to 1729 Anglo-Spanish War
1:
1188:The English Historical Review
605:War of the Quadruple Alliance
519:(1674–1738), who sent him to
16:18th century British diplomat
1535:Fellows of the Royal Society
1336:UK public library membership
1165:UK public library membership
1381:Parliament of Great Britain
1359:"M6012; Sir Benjamin Keene"
802:"M6012; Sir Benjamin Keene"
738:between Spain, Austria and
501:Pembroke College, Cambridge
386:. He later agreed the 1739
361:British Ambassador to Spain
316:Pembroke College, Cambridge
189:British Ambassador to Spain
60:British Ambassador to Spain
1571:
1126:Mclachlan, Jean O (1940).
734:He also brokered the 1752
688:died and was succeeded by
684:In July 1746, French-born
618:, ending the 1727 to 1729
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1460:Admiral Sir Charles Wager
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1265:Sedgwick, R, ed. (1970).
1195:Richmond, Herbert William
724:Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
633:With the outbreak of the
527:, then Consul from 1724.
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1515:Leiden University alumni
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1500:People from King's Lynn
1295:Simms, Brendan (2008).
1055:Browning, Reed (1993).
609:Jacobite rising of 1719
482:(1753–1837) was MP for
303:Charles Keene (1674–?)
1328:10.1093/ref:odnb/15245
1276:Scott, Hamish (2015).
1221:. Harper Collins, 1993
1157:10.1093/ref:odnb/15245
1059:. St. Martin's Press.
709:Ambassador to Portugal
681:
628:Convention of El Pardo
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460:, and later Master of
423:Ambassador to Portugal
405:from 1740 to 1741 for
380:1729 Treaty of Seville
305:Susan Rolfe (? – 1753)
270:St Nicholas's Chapel,
113:Ambassador to Portugal
1530:British MPs 1741–1747
1525:British MPs 1734–1741
1032:Anderson, MS (1976).
771:Diplomatic Revolution
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533:
499:Keene graduated from
462:Peterhouse, Cambridge
1441:Member of Parliament
1405:1740 to 1741
1397:Member of Parliament
783:Charles III of Spain
639:Member of Parliament
549:. They included the
403:Member of Parliament
245:King's Lynn, Norfolk
857:, pp. 101–102.
748:Marquis of Ensenada
635:War of Jenkins' Ear
486:from 1774 to 1786.
428:Following the 1748
396:War of Jenkins' Ear
388:Convention of Pardo
224:War of Jenkins' Ear
94:War of Jenkins' Ear
1468:Sir John Frederick
1363:Maritime Memorials
1225:Rothbard, Murray.
1217:Rodger, N. A. M.,
881:, pp. online.
869:, pp. Online.
806:Maritime Memorials
736:Treaty of Aranjuez
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509:Secretary of State
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49:Sir Benjamin Keene
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1465:Succeeded by
1422:Robert Colebrooke
1415:Succeeded by
1334:(Subscription or
1287:978-1-138-13423-2
1163:(Subscription or
760:Order of the Bath
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686:Philip V of Spain
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543:Treaty of Utrecht
525:South Sea Company
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1429:Preceded by
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1472:William Noel
1458:
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1432:John Strange
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1366:. Retrieved
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690:Ferdinand VI
683:
678:Ferdinand VI
669:1746 to 1757
647:Henry Pelham
632:
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593:mercantilism
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578:black market
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498:
495:1718 to 1746
477:
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256:(1757-12-15)
219:Succeeded by
196:
178:
159:
141:Succeeded by
120:
101:Succeeded by
67:
18:
1495:1757 deaths
1490:1697 births
1256:4 September
1040:. Longman.
903:Ibañez 2008
843:Mercer 2004
562:Porto Bello
447:King's Lynn
409:, then for
382:ending the
282:Nationality
207:Preceded by
131:Preceded by
88:Preceded by
1484:Categories
1338:required.)
1167:required.)
1002:Simms 2008
990:Lodge 1932
978:Scott 2015
966:Lodge 1932
855:Ewing 1837
826:Lodge 1932
789:References
645:. Part of
471:, British
340:1741–1744
334:Committees
326:Occupation
311:Alma mater
272:Kings Lynn
1445:West Looe
1435:John Owen
1231:Mises.org
764:George II
717:Gibraltar
655:West Looe
597:Gibraltar
554:de Negros
515:magnate,
484:Cambridge
441:Biography
437:victory.
411:West Looe
392:Caribbean
300:Parent(s)
201:1729–1739
197:In office
179:In office
164:1741–1747
160:In office
152:West Looe
125:1745–1749
121:In office
81:George II
72:1749–1757
68:In office
1251:Gale.com
1197:(1920).
1105:: 1–43.
1017:Schumann
951:Rothbard
740:Sardinia
566:Veracruz
480:Benjamin
329:Diplomat
1368:30 July
1236:27 July
1119:3678642
1026:Sources
811:30 July
573:asiento
552:Asiento
513:Norfolk
450:Norfolk
357:Norfolk
285:English
276:Norfolk
242:ca 1697
169:MP for
150:MP for
92:Vacant
77:Monarch
1457:With:
1407:With:
1401:Maldon
1332:
1284:
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1161:
1134:
1117:
1063:
1044:
756:London
713:Lisbon
643:Maldon
521:Madrid
505:Leiden
490:Career
454:Edmund
419:Lisbon
407:Maldon
365:Madrid
171:Maldon
1115:JSTOR
1090:(PDF)
744:Italy
601:Mahón
582:Cadiz
376:Spain
294:Whigs
1454:1747
1450:1741
1443:for
1399:for
1370:2019
1282:ISBN
1258:2020
1238:2019
1205:ISBN
1132:ISBN
1061:ISBN
1042:ISBN
813:2019
659:1741
651:Whig
641:for
599:and
571:The
564:and
511:and
251:Died
239:Born
1452:to
1324:doi
1153:doi
1107:doi
762:by
657:in
649:'s
421:as
374:to
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