A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
History
A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
matriculated in 1853, taking the first-class scholarship in classics,
and in his subsequent course held first-class honors also in
mathematics, metaphysics and ethics, natural sciences, modern languages,
logic, rhetoric and history. In 1857 he graduated B.A. with gold medal
in metaphysics and ethics; took M.A. in 1860; LL.B. in 1864, and LL.D.,
in 1877. In 1859 Dr. Kennedy occupied the position of master of the
Grammar School of Prescott; and during the years 1860-1 he was second
master in the Ottawa Grammar School, and had charge of the branch
Meteorological Observatory at Ottawa. In 1862 he began the study of the
law in the offices of Crooks, Kingsmill and Cattanach, Toronto, and was
admitted as an attorney and solicitor, and was called to the bar of
Ontario in Hilary term, 1865. He then began the practice of his
profession in Ottawa, and for six years carried on his business in his
native place. In February, 1872, he received the appointment of law
clerk to the Crown Lands Department of Ontario, and moved to Toronto,
where he has ever since resided. During the years 1878-9-80 the doctor
was examiner in law at the University of Toronto. He was one of the
founders of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society, formed by the
amalgamation of the Mechanics’ Institute and Natural History Society,
and was secretary for some years, and as a recognition of his labours in
connection therewith was made a life member. He was also one of the
original members of the University College Literary and Scientific
Society, and is a member of the Canadian Institute, of which he was for
three years a vice-president, and is now editor of “The Proceedings.”
For some time he has been secretary to the Toronto St. Andrew’s Society,
and as such prepared a history of the Society as a memorial for its
jubilee year, 1886. Dr. Kennedy is an omnivorous reader, and as a
consequence has a large and well-selected library—indeed he considers a
library the most important part of any home—and few men are better
posted in book-lore than he. He, too, has seen a good deal of Canada and
the United States, and is familiar with the principal places in North
America, ranging from the Southern states, the Western states, the
Maritime provinces, the Muskoka district, and the regions beyond Ottawa.
As might be expected, Dr. Kennedy was brought up a Presbyterian, but
when quite young he began to entertain doubts as to the correctness of
the Calvinistic faith of his church. For several years he was greatly
troubled about this matter, and finding he could no longer stifle his
convictions, he broke away from the church, and became almost an
Agnostic. After a while, however, he joined the Unitarian church, and no
one has now a firmer faith than he in the Divine Fatherhood, and the
infinite possibilities of human progress. On the 6th June, 1883, he
married Sarah, daughter of the late Henry Jackson, a well-known
jeweller, and once resident of Toronto.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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