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Author: Kennedy, Rann

Biography:

Kennedy, Rann (1772-1851: ODNB)

Clergyman, classical scholar, teacher, poet. He was born at Birmingham to Benjamin Kennedy, a physician, and Damaris (Maddox) Kennedy. In 1773, the family moved to Annapolis MD where Benjamin was involved in a plan to introduce inoculation; they remained there throughout the War of Independence, but mother and son returned to England in 1784 after Benjamin’s death. Kennedy studied at King Edward’s Grammar School in Birmingham (where later he was to serve as second master) before going up to St. John’s College, Cambridge, as an exhibitioner. He graduated BA in 1795, was ordained, and began teaching at a succession of schools. In 1797, a year before earning his MA, he was appointed to St Paul’s Chapel, Birmingham, where he remained until his retirement in 1849. He was ecumenical in his views, an excellent classical scholar, and a friend of other contemporary poets and intellectuals. In 1802 he married Julia Hall; they had four sons, all of whom had distinguished academic and professional careers. His second son, Charles Rann Kennedy, collaborated with him in a translation of Virgil, published 1849. His other publications include A Church of England Psalm Book (1821) and Britain’s Genius: A Mask Composed on the Occasion of the Marriage of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland (1840); the latter was accompanied by a lyrical poem, “The Reign of Youth,” which became popular. On his retirement, Kennedy moved to Yardley, near Birmingham; he died at Charles’s house in Birmingham, leaving his wife and three of their sons. (Notes and Queries 4th Ser. XI [1873] 118-21; ODNB 24 Feb 2020; ancestry.co.uk 24 Feb 2020)

 

Other Names:

  • R. Kennedy
 

Books written (3):

London/ Edinburgh/ Birmingham: for the author by J. Hatchard/ A. Constable and Co./ Beilby and Knott, 1817
2nd edn. London: for the author by A. J. Valpy, [1817?]
London/ Cambridge/ Oxford/ Birmingham: Longman and Co., and Baldwin, Craddock and Joy/ Deighton and Son, and Newby/ Parker/ R. Wrighton, 1827