Robert P. Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Robert Patterson Kennedy (January 23, 1840 – May 6, 1918) was a U.S. Representative
from Ohio
, as well as an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, Kennedy attended the public schools and Geneva College
in Northwood, Ohio
. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 23rd Ohio Infantry
on June 11, 1861. He served as a captain and assistant adjutant general
dating from October 7, 1862, and was promoted to major
and assistant adjutant general on November 16, 1864. He resigned April 8, 1865.
Kennedy was commissioned as colonel
of the 196th Ohio Infantry
, on April 14, 1865. He was brevetted
as lieutenant colonel
of volunteers and brigadier general
of volunteers, both dating from March 13, 1865.
Upon the end of the war and his resignation from the volunteer army, Kennedy returned to Bellefontaine, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar
in 1866 and commenced practice in Bellefontaine. He was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes
as collector of internal revenue for the fourth district of Ohio, serving from 1878 to 1883. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 1885–87.
Kennedy was elected from Ohio's 8th District
as a Republican
to the Fiftieth
and Fifty-first
Congresses (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1890.
He was appointed by President William McKinley
in 1899 as a member of the Insular Commission, which was directed to investigate and report upon conditions existing in Cuba
and Puerto Rico
and served as its president.
Robert P. Kennedy died in Columbus, Ohio
, and was interred in the Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Despite his name and profession, he was not related to the Kennedy political family
.
Kennedy was the author of The Historical Review of Logan County, Ohio, published in 1903 by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, as well as an officer in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Born in Bellefontaine, OhioBellefontaine, Ohio
Bellefontaine is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,069 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003...
, Kennedy attended the public schools and Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
in Northwood, Ohio
Northwood, Logan County, Ohio
Northwood is a small, unincorporated crossroads village in northern Logan County, Ohio, United States. It lies along the line between Richland Township and McArthur Township, approximately two miles south of the village of Belle Center and near the South Fork of the Great Miami River. Northwood...
. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 23rd Ohio Infantry
23rd Ohio Infantry
The 23rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during much of the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a variety of campaigns and battles, and is remembered with a stone memorial on the Antietam National Battlefield not far from Burnside's...
on June 11, 1861. He served as a captain and assistant adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
dating from October 7, 1862, and was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and assistant adjutant general on November 16, 1864. He resigned April 8, 1865.
Kennedy was commissioned as colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 196th Ohio Infantry
196th Ohio Infantry
The 196th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 196th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in March 25, 1865 for one year service under the command of Colonel Robert Patterson Kennedy.The...
, on April 14, 1865. He was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
as lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of volunteers and brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers, both dating from March 13, 1865.
Upon the end of the war and his resignation from the volunteer army, Kennedy returned to Bellefontaine, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1866 and commenced practice in Bellefontaine. He was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
as collector of internal revenue for the fourth district of Ohio, serving from 1878 to 1883. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 1885–87.
Kennedy was elected from Ohio's 8th District
Ohio's 8th congressional district
Ohio's 8th congressional district sits on the west side of Ohio, bordering Indiana. The cities of Hamilton, Fairfield, Middletown, Huber Heights, Eaton, Greenville, Piqua, Troy, and parts of Dayton, Riverside, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base are part of the district...
as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fiftieth
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
and Fifty-first
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
Congresses (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1890.
He was appointed by President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
in 1899 as a member of the Insular Commission, which was directed to investigate and report upon conditions existing in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and served as its president.
Robert P. Kennedy died in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and was interred in the Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Despite his name and profession, he was not related to the Kennedy political family
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
.
Kennedy was the author of The Historical Review of Logan County, Ohio, published in 1903 by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago.