KFC-02747N

Copyright © John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Photographer unknown. Kennedy Family Collection.

Born:

  • 6 September 1888
  • Boston, Massachusetts

Died:

  • 18 November 1969
  • Hyannis Port, Massachusetts

Parents:

  • Patrick (P.J.) Kennedy
  • Mary Augusta Hickey

Education:

  • Harvard University

Spouse:

  • Rose Fitzgerald (1914–his death in 1969)

Children:

  • Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr.
  • John Fitzgerald Kennedy
  • Rosemary Kennedy
  • Kathleen Kennedy
  • Eunice Kennedy
  • Patricia Kennedy
  • Robert Francis Kennedy
  • Jean Kennedy
  • Edward Moore Kennedy

The measure of a man’s success in life is not the money he’s made. It’s the kind of family he has raised.”
—Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.

Political Background:

  • 1st Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 1934-1935
  • 1st Chairman of the Maritime Commission, 1936-1938
  • Served FDR as 44th United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
    17 January 1938- 22 October 1940 and first Irish American to serve in this position.

Contributions:

  • Kennedy was a millionaire by the age of 30, through his role as bank president and investments in the movie business and alcohol distribution.
  • Kennedy retired from stock trading at the age of 41, amassing enough capital to build multiple million dollar trust funds for each of his nine children.
  • Kennedy promoted and funded his sons’ political careers, even though he differed with his son JFK on many policies, specially in foreign affairs.