Francis William Kennedy
Admiral Francis William Kennedy, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (15 December, 1862 – 11 July, 1939) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
Contents
Life & Career
Francis William Kennedy was born in Straffan, Co. Kildare, on 15 December, 1862, the third son of Robert Kennedy (d. 1913) and Alice Elizabeth, daughter of the Reverend Henry and Lady Emilie Gray.
He came thirty-ninth in order of merit out of forty-two candidates who passed the examination for naval cadetships.[1]
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 1 April, 1886.[2]
Kennedy was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1898.[3]
He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1904.[4]
On 13 July, 1905, he was appointed in command of the Thetis.[5]
He was appointed to command the battleship Ocean on 25 January, 1908.[6]
He was appointed to command the battleship Duncan on 1 August, 1912. [Citation needed]
Great War
Admiral Milne noted in his confidential report on Kennedy: "Zealous & painstaking. I have sometimes thought he did not quite understand the CinC's orders, or carry them out. Rather of the buffoon type, yet well meaning. Handles his ship well."[7]
Kennedy was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 June, 1916,[8] and relieved in command of Indomitable on 7 June.
On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[9]
On 23 June, 1917, Kennedy was appointed Senior Naval Officer at Peterhead.[10]
Post-War & Retirement
On 12 May, 1919, Peterhead naval base closed and Kennedy's duties as S.N.O. ceased. He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 24 March, 1920, vice de Robeck, and placed on the Retired List the following day, 25 March.[11]
He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1925.[12]
Kennedy died on 11 July, 1939, from congestive heart failure and aortic regurgitation.
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 4 December, 1875. Issue 28490, col A, pg. 6.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 25574. p. 1595. 2 April, 1886.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 27750. p. 25. 3 January, 1905.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 13 July, 1905. Issue 37758, col D, pg. 10.
- ↑ The Navy List (October, 1908). p. 350.
- ↑ ADM 196/88. f. 64.
- ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5827. 13 June, 1916.
- ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (November, 1918). p. 3.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 3186. p. 4474. 16 April, 1920.
- ↑ London Gazette: no. 33049. p. 3445. 22 May, 1925.
Bibliography
- "Admiral F. W. Kennedy" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 12 July, 1939. Issue 48355, col C, pg. 16.
Papers
Service Records
- The National Archives. ADM 196/88.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/42.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/20.
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