A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kennedy, Andrew
KENNEDY. (Commander, 1842. f-p., 23; h-p., 16.)
Andrew Kennedy was born 24 Aug. 1787, at Devonport. His father was 55 years in the Service.
This officer entered the Navy, 5 Jan. 1808, as a Volunteer, on board the Penelope 36, Capt. John Dick, under whom he served, as Midshipman, at the reduction of Martinique in Feb. 1809.[1] Until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 9 Feb. 1815, he was further actively employed on the Halifax and Newfoundland stations, chiefly as Master’s Mate, in the Aeolus 32, Capt. Lord Jas. Townshend, and Bellerophon 74, flag-ship of Sir Rich. Goodwin Keats. Between April and Sept. of the latter year we find him doing duty at Portsmouth in the Prince 98, bearing the successive flags of Sir Rich. Bickerton and Sir Edw. Thornbrough. He next, from June, 1824, until July, 1827, served on the North American and West India stations, as First of the Niemen 28, Capts. Wallis, Canning, and Simeon. He was subsequently appointed to the command – in Sept. 1828, of the African, the first Government steamer stationed between Corfu and Ancona, in which he was employed in carrying despatches relative to the war between Turkey and Russia, and also in communicating with the Pacha of Egypt on the subject of steam with India – 24 June, 1830, of the Hermes, another steam-vessel, also stationed in the Mediterranean – 27 Nov. 1832, and 4 June, 1834, of the Alban and Spitfire Falmouth packets – and, 27 Nov. 1838, of the Acheron steamer. In the Alban, the first steam-vessel that returned to England from the West Indies, Lieut. Kennedy went 208 miles up the river Orinoco, as far as Angostura, where no British man-of-war had ever before been. He proved, in the Spitfire, what had been before doubted, namely, the ability on the part of a steamer to resist the effects of a hurricane; and when in the Acheron, in which vessel he remained until Dec. 1841, he conveyed to Sir Robt. Stopford the despatches directing the attack upon St. Jean d’Acre, and afforded a passage to the British ambassador from Constantinople to Malta, and thence to Naples. He was advanced to his present rank 27 May, 1842, but has not been since employed.
Commander Kennedy married Maria, daughter of Dennis Pinnock, Esq., of the island of Jamaica, by whom he has issue six children.
- ↑ While in the Penelope Mr. Kennedy lost the tops of three fingers of his right hand.