John Seymour Keay was a Scottish businessman in India, and later a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom.
Education
Educated at Madras College, Saint Andrews, Keay was apprenticed in 1856 to the Commercial Bank of Scotland, and in 1862 went to India to manage branches of the Government Bank of Bengal, which was recently started to develop the cotton trade between India and the United Kingdom.
Career
He next entered the service of Sir Salar Jung, minister of Hyderabad. After a successful public career Keay opened a private banking and mercantile business at Hyderabad, and founded the cotton spinning and weaving mills that became the Hyderabad (Deccan) Spinning and Weaving Company Limited. He remained a director of the company until his death.
After twenty years in India Keay returned to England in 1882, and busily engaged in both home and Indian politics.
He was re-elected at the general election of 1892, but was defeated after a close contest in that of July 1895. And was again unsuccessful at Tamworth in January 1906.
Keay had a country residence at Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, and was president of the Stroud Liberal club He died on 27 June 1909 at his London residence, 44 Bassett Road, North Kensington, and his remains were cremated at Golder"s Green.
Keay married on 22 October 1878 Nina, second daughter of William Came Vivian of Penzance.
She died on 16 January 1885, leaving two daughters.
Membership
24th United Kingdom Parliament. 25th United Kingdom Parliament]
He sympathised with the Indian wish for a larger share in the government, and was a member of the British committee of the Indian National Congress.