A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kennedy, John James
KENNEDY. (Lieut., 1841. f-p., 14; h-p., 0.)
John James Kennedy, born in April, 1821, at Waterford, is son of the Venerable Jas. Kennedy, Archdeacon of that place.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College in June, 1833, and embarked, in June, 1835, as a Volunteer, on board the Magicienne 24, Capt. Geo. Wm. St. John Mildmay, employed off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. Becoming Midshipman, in Nov. 1837, of the Favorite 18, Capt. Walter Croker, he proceeded in that vessel to the East Indies, where, in Oct. 1839, he joined the Wellesley 72, Capt.Thos. Maitland. Uniting afterwards in the operations against) China, Mr, Kennedy served, as Mate, either in the boats or on shore, at the first capture of Chusan; the attack upon the enemy’s forts at Chuenpee and the Bogue, as also upon their camp, fort, and ship Cambridge, bearing the Chinese Admiral’s flag, below Whampoa Reach, where 98 guns were in the whole destroyed; the towing of H.M.S. Sulphur from under the fire of a masked battery; the storming of the heights above Canton in May, 1841; and the reduction of Amoy, the recapture of Chusan, the storming of Chinghae (where he commanded the barge),[1] and the occupation of Ningpo. He attained his present rank 8 Oct. 1841; returned to England at the conclusion of the war in the Blenheim 72, Capt. Sir Thos. Herbert; and, from 12 June, 1843, until paid off in the summer of 1847, was employed at the Cape of Good Hope as Second and First Lieutenant of the Conway 26, Capt. Wm. Kelly.
Lieut, Kennedy holds testimonials of the highest description from Sir Gordon Bremer, Sir Thos. Maitlamd, and Sir Thos. Herbert, the former of whom had his broad pendant on board the Wellesley; and he has been awarded a first-class certificate for his proficiency in naval gunnery.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1842, p. 397.