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Richard Keene was a Derbyshire photographer in the 1800s. Son of Richard Keene and Priscilla Kimpton, he was born in London on May 15th 1825. At the age of three, Keene moved with his family to Derby and his father became the manager of Frost's Silk Mill.

He was educated at Thomas Swanwick's academy in Derby before becomming an apprentce for Thomas Richardson & sons, a printing company in Ashbourne. He moved to work in their London offices. His next job was working in publishing and bookselling for Simpkin Marshall & co.

In 1851 Keene made a return to Derby to set up as a printer, publisher and bookseller in Irongate and Richard Keene and Co was born.

He developed an interest in photography an began taking and selling photographs of Derby and Derbyshire and before long photography had dominated his business.

He set up a portrait studio and worked on commissions for firms, estates and families in the county. Over time his business spread across many counties.

Keene was also a founder member of the Derby Photographic Society which was formed in 1884. He was also a member of the Photographic Convention of the UK.

He married Mary Barrow in 1851 and had eight children in total, five sons and 3 Daughters. They lived in Radbourne Street, Derby.

• Artists With Derbyshire Connections
• Richard Keene

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County:  Derbyshire

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