Patrick Keenan was born at 43 New Dock Street in Belfast, Ireland on 4 March 1881¹. He was the son of Patrick Keenan, a butcher, and Mary Fairfield.

Already described as a marine fireman, Keenan joined the Royal Navy as a stoker in May 1903, his first ship being Vivid II. His service on Vivid II was interspersed with periods aboard Cornwallis, Monmouth, Hogue and Victory II ² before he went ashore from Vivid II in July 1909. That same month he joined the Royal Naval Reserve in Devonport.

On 31 December 1903, whilst a resident of 37 Marine Street, Belfast, Keenan was married to Mary Ann Magee (b. circa 1884) in Belfast’s St Patrick’s Church. They had no children and by 1911 were residents of 17 Lord George’s Street in Belfast. 

Keenan’s ship prior to Titanic had been the Olympic. He joined Titanic at Belfast for the delivery trip to Southampton where he then disembarked.

With the outbreak of war Keenan rejoined the Royal Navy, being assigned to the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School , Devonport (Vivid II).

His last ship was Impregnable before he was discharged in the summer of 1919. He then went on to rejoin ships in the merchant fleet.

His final whereabouts remain unknown.