Edmund P. Kennedy

Edmund Pendleton Kennedy (22 February 1785 – 28 March 1844)[1] was an officer in the United States Navy and became the first commander-in-chief of the East India Squadron.

This article is about US Navy officer. For the Australian explorer, see Edmund Kennedy.

Edmund Pendleton Kennedy
Born	22 February 1780 Maryland
Died	28 March 1844(1844-03-28) (aged 64) Norfolk, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	c.1795–1844
Rank	Commodore
Commands held	USS Nonsuch East India Squadron
Battles/wars	First Barbary War War of 1812

Early life

Kennedy was born in Maryland in 1780. He lost his parents in his early life. He entered as a boy on board the frigate John Adams. At the Battle of Tripoli Harbor in 1804, in the First Barbary War, Kennedy was gunner's mate on board and was distinguished by his valor and intrepid ardor in the performance of duty. He was promoted to midshipman on 22 November 1805.[2]

On 9 June 1810 Kennedy was promoted to lieutenant.[2] Early in 1813 he was appointed to the command of the schooner Nonsuch, but was never permitted to go to sea. Transferred to the frigate Constellation at Norfolk ready for sea under Captain Charles Gordon. But Constellation was closely blockaded by a British Squadron and failed to get to sea. In April 1814, he moved to Lake Erie and was there until the end of the war.[3] On 5 March 1817, he was promoted to master commandant,[4] and to captain on 24 April 1828.[2]

East India Squadron

U.S. trade with the Far East was limited, but for those who risked long voyage to trade fur, sandalwood, and cotton goods for Chinese silks and tea, the results were very profitable. Indeed, stories about the riches of Far East created the national myth about the vast potential of the China market. In an effort of turn the myth into reality, in 1835 President Andrew Jackson sent diplomatist Edmund Roberts in the Peacock commanded by lieutenant C. K. Stribling, accompanied by the U. S. Schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant Commanding A. S. Campbell, both under the command of Commodore Kennedy,[5] to Chochin-China, thus established the East India Squadron.[6]

Kennedy died on 28 March 1844.[2]

References

1. "Capt Edmund Pendleton Kennedy (1780 - 1844) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
2. "US Navy Officers: 1775-1900 (K)". history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
3. Army and Navy Chronicle. Volume 6. p. 341.
4. "Naval Register for the Year 1824". ibiblio.org. February 2, 1824. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
5. Ruschenberger, William Samuel Waithman (1838). A Voyage Round the World: Including an Embassy to Muscat and Siam in 1835, 1836 and 1837. Harper & brothers. OCLC 12492287. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
6. Symonds, Craig L.; Clipson, William J. The Naval Institute historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy. p. 64.

Further reading

• Long, David Foster (c. 1988). "Chapter Nine". Gold braid and foreign relations : diplomatic activities of U.S. naval officers, 1798-1883. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 207ff. ISBN 9780870212284. JSTOR 2163133. LCCN 87034879.

Military offices
Preceded by none	Commander, East India Squadron 3 March 1835–10 October 1837	Succeeded by George C. Read