A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kennedy, Alexander (b)

1776820A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Kennedy, Alexander (b)William Richard O'Byrne

KENNEDY. (Commander, 1822. f-p., 15; h-p., 30.)

Alexander Kennedy (b) entered the Navy in Nov. 1802, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Tonnant 80, Capt. Sir Edw. Pellew, employed off the coast of Spain; and in 1804, on that officer hoisting his flag in the Culloden 74, sailed with him for the East Indies. In Dec. 1805 he became Midshipman of the Concorde 36, commanded by the present Sir Josiah Coghill, but, rejoining the Culloden in Dec. 1806, was afforded an opportunity of witnessing the destruction, 11 Dec. 1807, of the dockyard and stores at Griessee, in the island of Java, and of all the men-of-war remaining to Holland in India. Between Jan. 1808 and his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 25 July, 1811, Mr. Kennedy served in various ships, principally on the Home station; after which we find him, until 1815, employed in the Mediterranean, on board the Centaur 74, Capt. Thos. White, Rainbow 26, Capts. Gardiner Henry Guion and Gawen Wm. Hamilton, Boyne 98, flagship of Lord Exmouth, and Aboukir 74, Capt. Norborne Thompson. When in the Rainbow he took command of her boats, and captured, off the island of Corsica, a lateen-rigged vessel, laden with oak-planks.[1] On 24 May, 1819, he assumed charge of the Hound Revenue-cruizer, as he also did, for some time, in 1821, of the Sylvia, a similar vessel. He attained his present rank 9 Oct. 1822, and has since been on half-pay.

Commander Kennedy married, 2 Feb. 1821, Elizabeth Rolleston, niece of A. Boyd, Esq., of Gostler, co. Donegal. Agents – Goode and Lawrence.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1814, p. 1411.