John Gordon Kennedy
Career
Kennedy was born in 1836, the son of John Kennedy (d. 1845) and his wife Amelia Maria Briggs (d. 1896).[1] His father had been the British Chargé d'affaires in Naples, Italy,[2] and was a grandson of the 11th Earl of Cassilis. His brothers included Admiral Sir William Robert Kennedy (1838-1916) and Gilbert George Kennedy (1844-1909).
He entered the Foreign Office in 1857, served in St Petersburg, and was Legation Secretary in Japan, 1879-82 where Ernest Satow knew him.[3] He was Secretary at the British Embassy in Rome when in October 1888 he was appointed Minister Resident and Consul General to the Republic of Chile.[4] He served in Chile until August 1897, when he was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of the King of Romania,[5] serving as such until 1905.
Kennedy was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 1901 New Year Honours.[6]
Family
Kennedy married, in 1877, Evelyn Adela Bootle-Wilbraham, daughter of Colonel Hon. Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, a son of the 1st Baron Skelmersdale.
References
- "Sir John Gordon Kennedy". www.thepeerage.com. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- "Death Of Admiral Sir W. R. Kennedy. Seaman And Author". Obituaries. The Times. No. 41294. London. 10 October 1916. col C, p. 11.
- See Satow's diary for 17 February 1879 and subsequent entries.
- "No. 25862". The London Gazette. 2 October 1888. p. 5429.
- "No. 26890". The London Gazette. 10 September 1897. p. 5059.
- "No. 27264". The London Gazette. 8 January 1901. p. 157.