Francis William Kennedy

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Admiral Francis William Kennedy, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (15 December, 1862 – 11 July, 1939) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He commanded the battlecruiser Indomitable at the Battle of Jutland.

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]

In December 1906, he assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Amphitrite.[6]

Kennedy was appointed to command the battleship Ocean on 25 January, 1908.[7]

He served as captain of Glory from September of 1910 through late in 1912.[8]

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."[9]

Kennedy was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 June, 1916,[10] 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.[11]

On 23 June, 1917, Kennedy was appointed Senior Naval Officer at Peterhead.[12]

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.[13]

He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1925.[14]

Kennedy died on 11 July, 1939, from congestive heart failure and aortic regurgitation.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral F. W. Kennedy" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 12 July, 1939. Issue 48355, col C, p. 16.

Papers

See Also

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Lionel G. Tufnell
as Captain of H.M.S. Cruiser 		Captain of H.M.S. Cruizer
8 Nov, 1901[15] – 31 Mar, 1903[16] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
William H. Baker-Baker 		Captain of H.M.S. Medusa
30 Jun, 1903[17] – 30 Jan, 1905[18] 		Succeeded by
Albert S. Susmann
Preceded by
Julian C. A. Wilkinson 		Captain of H.M.S. Thetis
13 Jul, 1905[19] – 6 Dec, 1906[20] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Stanhope Hawke
Preceded by
Cecil S. Hickley 		Captain of H.M.S. Amphitrite
6 Dec, 1906[21] – 20 Aug, 1907[22] 		Succeeded by
Edward F. Bruen
Preceded by
Charles H. Dundas 		Captain of H.M.S. Ocean
25 Jan, 1908[23][24] – 15 Feb, 1910[25] 		Succeeded by
Reginald A. Norton
Preceded by
Edmund R. Pears 		Captain of H.M.S. Trafalgar
5 Apr, 1910[26] 		Succeeded by
Harold E. Browne
Preceded by
Marcus R. Hill 		Captain of H.M.S. Glory
6 Sep, 1910[27][28] – 31 Jul, 1912[29] 		Succeeded by
Edward B. Kiddle
Preceded by
Frederick L. Field 		Captain of H.M.S. Duncan
31 Jul, 1912[30] – 11 Dec, 1912[31] 		Succeeded by
Francis S. Miller
Preceded by
George H. Baird 		Captain of H.M.S. Indomitable
11 Dec, 1912[32][33] – 7 Jun, 1916[34] 		Succeeded by
Michael H. Hodges
Preceded by
James E. C. Goodrich 		Senior Officer in Charge, Auxiliary Patrol Area V
23 Jun, 1917[35] – 12 May, 1919 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
James E. C. Goodrich 		Senior Officer, Peterhead
23 Jun, 1917[36] – 12 May, 1919 		Succeeded by
Base Closed

 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 4 December, 1875. Issue 28490, col A, p. 6.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25574. p. 1595. 2 April, 1886.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27750. p. 25. 3 January, 1905.
  5. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 13 July, 1905. Issue 37758, col D, p. 10.
  6. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  7. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 350.
  8. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  9. ↑ ADM 196/88. f. 64.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5827. 13 June, 1916.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 3.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 3186. p. 4474. 16 April, 1920.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33049. p. 3445. 22 May, 1925.
  15. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  16. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  17. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  18. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  19. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  20. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  21. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  22. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  23. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  24. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 350.
  25. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  26. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  27. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  28. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 320.
  29. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  30. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  31. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  32. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  33. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 395a.
  34. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 131.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 3.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 3.

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