Richard Dean.

About Richard Dean

Richard Betenson Dean was a British civil servant. Dean's family had a history of work in the civil service. His Polish grandfather settled in England and became a confidant to the Duke of Grafton, while Dean's father worked in the Secretary of State's office for most of his life. Following an education at Oxford University, he was called to the bar in 1808, but became a customs commissioner two years later. He served as chairman of the English Board of Customs from 1819; when that Board was merged with its Scottish equivalent in 1823, he took over as chairman of the new Customs Board for the United Kingdom. Despite complements on his work, elements of the press and Parliament became critical of the commissioners' competence in the 1840s. Dean defended their work, but pressure mounted, likely prompting his retirement in 1846; he died at his London residence four years later.