Alexander William Kean died on the Gold Coast in September, 1912, aged 42 years.
He served his apprenticeship to a firm of mechanical engineers in Glasgow, and afterwards spent a year as second engineer on a steamship.
From 1891 to 1894 he was engaged in mining in various places in the western United States, and subsequently spent about four years in mechanical engineering in Birmingham. In 1898 he went prospecting in West Africa, and from 1900 to 1903 acted as assistant superintendent, and later on as superintendent, to the Ashanti Gold Concessions, Ltd. After about two years’ employment with the Bokitsi Goldfields, he joined the staff of the Bibiani Goldfields, Ltd., and remained in that connection for seven years, for the last five of which he occupied the position of general manager.
Early in 1912 he was appointed manager of the N’Tubia Mines, Gold Coast, for the West African Trust, Ltd., and it was while engaged in his professional duties there that his death occurred.
Mr. Kean was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1911.
Vol. 22, Trans IMM 1912-13, pp.719-20
