Gilbert G. Kennedy facts for kids

Gilbert George Kennedy (born May 9, 1844, died January 2, 1909) was a Scottish athlete. He played football for Scotland in an early international match against England. He was also a regular player for the Wanderers football club. Besides sports, he sometimes played cricket. For his job, he worked as a police magistrate and a Justice of the Peace.

Early Life and School

Gilbert George Kennedy was born in Bath, England. His father, John Kennedy, worked as a diplomat. He was a British representative in Naples, Italy, and also worked in the USA. Gilbert's father passed away when Gilbert was very young.

Gilbert had two notable brothers. One was Admiral Sir William Robert Kennedy. He became a high-ranking officer in the British Navy. His other brother, John Gordon Kennedy, was a well-known diplomat.

Gilbert went to Harrow School from 1858 to 1863. This is a famous school in England. In his last year there, he played on the school's football team.

University and Sports

After Harrow, Gilbert went to Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied there and earned a degree in 1868. While at Cambridge, he was very active in sports.

In 1868, he won a special award called a "blue" for athletics. This was for his performance in the three-mile race. He also rowed for his college team in 1867. He competed in running races in 1867 and 1868 as well.

Football and Cricket Career

Gilbert Kennedy played cricket for Trinity College, Cambridge. He played in matches against Huntingdonshire in 1866 and 1867.

He started playing football for the Wanderers club in December 1866. This was a very important football club at the time. He played 41 games for them over eight seasons. He also scored 8 goals during his time with the Wanderers.

In 1872, he played in an FA Cup match against Crystal Palace. This game ended in a draw, and both teams moved on to the next round. Gilbert also played for Middlesex against Surrey and Kent. He was even part of the Football Association committee for a year.

People described him as a "No mean forward." This means he was a good attacker in football. He was also known for being "very great in front of the enemy's goal."

Gilbert was chosen to play for "Scotland" in an early international match. This game was against England in 1870. It was organized by Charles Alcock. The Scottish team was made up of players from around London who had Scottish family ties. England won this match, which was played at The Oval.

Professional Life

After finishing university, Gilbert Kennedy became a barrister. This means he was a lawyer who could argue cases in court. He officially became a barrister in 1870.

From 1883 to 1889, he worked as a recorder in Grantham. A recorder is a type of judge.

Later, from 1889 to 1907, he became a Metropolitan Police magistrate. He worked at police courts in London, including Marlborough Street, Greenwich, and Woolwich. A magistrate is a judge who handles less serious legal cases.

He was also a Justice of the Peace in several areas around London. A Justice of the Peace is a volunteer who helps with legal duties.

Gilbert Kennedy also wrote some books. These included guides on mining laws and laws about land drainage.

He lived in London for many years. After he retired, he moved to Broadstairs in Kent. Gilbert George Kennedy passed away in Kent on January 2, 1909.

Family Life

Gilbert Kennedy married Alice Lyon on August 6, 1874. They had several children together.

One of their sons was Humphfrey Hayes Kennedy. He became a lieutenant-colonel in the Seaforth Highlanders. Sadly, he was killed during the First World War. Another son, John de Navarre Kennedy, later became a judge in Canada.