Biography

12/09/1857 - 06/19/1886

Joseph P. Kennedy (D2) Philadelphia (Part) County 1881-1886

Early Life: 

Joseph P. Kennedy, born December 9, 1857, County Antrim, Ireland, son of W.J. Kennedy; admitted Philadelphia bar, 1879; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1881-1886; died, June 19, 1886 (age 28), in office of the Senate, residence, pneumonia; interment, Old Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  

Office boy, Law Office of John Cochran, his predecessor in the Pennsylvania State Senate.  

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2nd district, Philadelphia (Part) County, November 1881 vacancy, elected age 24, fill unexpired term, John Cochran; re-elected Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2nd district, Philadelphia County, 1882; committee assignments, Judiciary Local, Legislative Apportionment and Municipal Affairs; died in office of the Senate, June 19, 1886.  

Legacy: 

At the time, the youngest elected Senator, not yet 24 years of age. 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members K". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1885). Smull, W.P., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 843, 849-851, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 810.

John Hugh Campbell, History of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick (Philadelphia: The Hibernian Society, 1892). 

Public Weekly Opinion (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) Friday June 18, 1886, Page 3.

Joseph P Kennedy (1857-1886) - Find a Grave Memorial