Joseph
Patrick Kennedy, the son of Patrick Joseph
Kennedy, was born in Boston, Massachusetts,
on 6th September, 1888. His father was the owner of the wine and spirit
importation business, P. J. Kennedy and Company, and a leading figure
in the local Democratic Party.
Kennedy studied at Harvard University and in 1914 married Rose
Fitzgerald, the daughter of John
Francis Fitzgerald, the mayor of Boston.
The couple had nine children including John
Fitzgerald Kennedy, Robert Kennedy
and Edward Kennedy.
In 1919 Kennedy became manager of Hayden, Stone and Company, where
he became an expert in dealing on the Wall Street Stock Market. He
became a multi-millionaire and retired from the business just before
the Wall Street Crash. Kennedy went
on to become a motion-picture tycoon.
Kennedy was an active member of the Democratic
Party and in 1934 President Franklin
D. Roosevelt appointed him chairman of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. With his inside knowledge of the system Kennedy was able
to outlaw those speculative practices that had made him rich but had
contributed to the Wall Street Crash.
In 1937 Kennedy was appointed United States Ambassador to Britain.
Kennedy, an isolationist who disapproved of Roosevelt's growing involvement
in the war, resigned from office in 1940.
During the Second World War Kennedy's eldest
son, Joseph Kennedy (1915-1944) was killed while serving in the armed
forces. Whereas his second son, John Fitzgerald
Kennedy, served with distinction with the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron.
After the war Kennedy concentrated on helping the political careers
of his three surviving sons. John Fitzgerald
Kennedy became president but was assassinated in 1963. Robert
Kennedy served as U.S. attorney general and as senator from New
York before being murdered in 1968. Edward
Kennedy, a senator from Massachusetts, was the front-runner to
become the Democratic Party presidential
candidate until the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in July, 1969. Joseph
Kennedy died on 18th November, 1969.
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