P. J. Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids P. J. Kennedy
P. J. Kennedy, c. 1900
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 4th Suffolk district
In office January 3, 1889 – January 3, 1895
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 2nd Suffolk district
In office January 3, 1884 – January 3, 1889
Personal details
Born	Patrick Joseph Kennedy (1858-01-14)January 14, 1858 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	May 18, 1929(1929-05-18) (aged 71) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Augusta Hickey ​ ​ (m. 1887; died 1923)​
Relations	See Kennedy family
Children	Joseph Francis Mary Margaret
Parents	Patrick Kennedy Bridget Murphy
Occupation	Businessman and politician

Patrick Joseph Kennedy (born January 14, 1858 – died May 18, 1929) was an American businessman and politician. He was from Boston, Massachusetts. He and his wife Mary had four children. One of their children was Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.. Joseph later became the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a U.S. Ambassador.

Patrick Joseph Kennedy's grandchildren include famous people like U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Others are U.S. Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Ted Kennedy.

When he was young, a serious illness took his father and brother. This left Patrick as the only male in his family. He started working at age fourteen. He became a very successful businessman. He owned several saloons and a company that imported whiskey. He also had big interests in coal and banking. Kennedy was an important person in the Democratic Party in Boston. He served in the state government. He was in both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate. However, he preferred to work behind the scenes as a political leader.

Early Life and Business

Young Kennedy around the mid-to-late 1870s

Patrick Joseph Kennedy was born on January 14, 1858. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the youngest of five children. His parents, Patrick and Bridget Kennedy, were Irish Catholic immigrants. They came from New Ross, County Wexford.

Before Patrick was born, his older brother John died from a serious illness. Ten months after Patrick's birth, his father Patrick also died from the same illness. This illness was common in their East Boston neighborhood. As the only boy left, Patrick was the first in his family to get a formal education. His mother Bridget bought a store. It sold stationery and other items. Her business grew and became a grocery and liquor store.

At age fourteen, young Patrick left school. He started working with his mother and three older sisters. He worked as a stevedore on the Boston docks. A stevedore is someone who loads and unloads ships. In the 1880s, he saved money from his work. With help from his mother, he started his own business. He bought a saloon in Haymarket Square.

Over time, he bought a second saloon near the East Boston docks. Then, he bought a third bar in a fancy East Boston hotel. This hotel was called the Maverick House. Before he turned thirty, he was doing very well. His success allowed him to buy a business that imported whiskey.

Family Life

On November 23, 1887, Patrick Kennedy married Mary Augusta Hickey. She was born on December 6, 1857, and passed away on May 6, 1923. They had four children together. They stayed married until Mary's death in 1923. Because he was wealthy, his family lived in a nice home in Jeffries Point.

Here are their children:

Political Career

P. J. Kennedy in 1893 as a Massachusetts State Senator

Patrick Kennedy was known for helping his fellow Irishmen. He would offer them money or good advice. Most people in East Boston liked and respected him. He lived in a neighborhood with people from different backgrounds. He was friendly and could get along with both Catholic and Protestant people. This helped him get into politics.

In 1884, he became a Democrat. At that time, the Republican Party was stronger in Massachusetts. He served five terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. After that, he served three terms in the Massachusetts Senate. These are both parts of the state government.

He became one of Boston's main Democratic leaders. He even spoke at the party's national meeting in St. Louis in 1888. He spoke in support of President Grover Cleveland. However, he did not enjoy giving speeches or making laws. He preferred working behind the scenes. This was common in Boston politics back then.

After leaving the Senate in 1895, Kennedy continued his political work. He was appointed to different city roles. He was an elections commissioner and a city fire commissioner. He was also a powerful leader in Boston's Ward Two. He was part of his party's unofficial Board of Strategy. This group made important decisions for the party.

Later Life and Death

By the time he passed away in 1929, Patrick Kennedy owned part of a coal company. He also had a lot of shares in a bank called the Columbia Trust Company.

In his later years, Kennedy became ill. In April 1929, he went to Deaconess Hospital for treatment. He died there on May 18, at the age of 71. His funeral was held at St. John the Evangelist Church in Winthrop, Massachusetts.

The Boston Globe newspaper reported that hundreds of people came to watch his funeral procession. Businesses in East Boston closed to honor him. Patrick Kennedy is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.

Legacy

In 1914, P.J. Kennedy's son Joseph married Rose Fitzgerald. She was the oldest daughter of Boston Mayor John F. Fitzgerald. Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. became a very important person. He was the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Joseph and Rose Kennedy had nine children. Their children include Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who died in World War II. Other children were U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.

See Also

In Spanish: Patrick J. Kennedy para niños