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.
[1] Dean was appointed a Commissioner of Customs for England and Wales in 1810, after Sir Alexander Munro's post on the Board was vacated.
[n 1] During his long tenure as chairman, he was called to answer questions by Parliamentary Select Committees on a number of occasions.
[10] In turn, Dean protested to the Committee that their scrutiny of the board should cease; while acknowledging that appointments to it were not meritocratic, he nonetheless defended the men as "gentlemen—men of education".
[11] In 1843, The Times published two articles which heavily criticised the Board and its practices; accusing them of "partiality and vindictiveness", the writer also stated that "with the exception of the chairman and vice-chairman, the Commissioners know as much of the affairs passing through their own departments as their own washerwomen.