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John Pendleton Kenndy: Gentleman from Baltimore
282 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 1961
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January 30, 2020
John Pendleton Kennedy (1795-1875) was a man who dabbled in many fields, law, politics, the military, and novels. His real love was his native city of Baltimore which he represented on and off
in both the Maryland legislature and the House of Representatives.
Kennedy was the son of Irish immigrants who were Protestant who became prominent merchants in
Baltimore. The Pendleton side were Virginia planter aristocracy who told him tales of the American
Revolution when he grew up. Part of the reason he enlisted in the army during the War Of 1812 and
fought at the losing battle of Bladensburg and the successful battle of North Point to defend Baltimore
from British attack. It was the seminal event of his life.
Law was nice, but politics interested him more and writing more than that. He wrote some really
successful novels of the first half of the 19th century like Horseshoe Robinson and Swallow Barn
which were set in the ante-bellum south. Kennedy was not an apologist for slavery and fought to
have it abolished in Maryland. Originally a Democrat, Kennedy came over to the Whigs after
Andrew Jackson opposed internal improvements.
During his time in Congress Kennedy became close friends with Millard Fillmore and both fought
for the development of the telegraph invented by Samuel F.B. Morse. Later on Kennedy was appointed Secretary Of The Navy by President Fillmore. Under his aegis Commodore Matthew C.
Perry was sent on that mission to open up Japan. Sadly Kennedy had nativist sympathies and
voted for Fillmore on the Know Nothing Party in 1856.
In 1860 he supported former Congressional colleague John Bell on the Union Party ticket and Bell's
running mate Edward Everett for Vice President. Everett was Secretary of State in the Fillmore
administration and both worked on the Perry mission, At first a critic he came around to support
Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg.
Kennedy was a man of many sides and achievements in various fields. This book will acquaint you
with them and with him.
in both the Maryland legislature and the House of Representatives.
Kennedy was the son of Irish immigrants who were Protestant who became prominent merchants in
Baltimore. The Pendleton side were Virginia planter aristocracy who told him tales of the American
Revolution when he grew up. Part of the reason he enlisted in the army during the War Of 1812 and
fought at the losing battle of Bladensburg and the successful battle of North Point to defend Baltimore
from British attack. It was the seminal event of his life.
Law was nice, but politics interested him more and writing more than that. He wrote some really
successful novels of the first half of the 19th century like Horseshoe Robinson and Swallow Barn
which were set in the ante-bellum south. Kennedy was not an apologist for slavery and fought to
have it abolished in Maryland. Originally a Democrat, Kennedy came over to the Whigs after
Andrew Jackson opposed internal improvements.
During his time in Congress Kennedy became close friends with Millard Fillmore and both fought
for the development of the telegraph invented by Samuel F.B. Morse. Later on Kennedy was appointed Secretary Of The Navy by President Fillmore. Under his aegis Commodore Matthew C.
Perry was sent on that mission to open up Japan. Sadly Kennedy had nativist sympathies and
voted for Fillmore on the Know Nothing Party in 1856.
In 1860 he supported former Congressional colleague John Bell on the Union Party ticket and Bell's
running mate Edward Everett for Vice President. Everett was Secretary of State in the Fillmore
administration and both worked on the Perry mission, At first a critic he came around to support
Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg.
Kennedy was a man of many sides and achievements in various fields. This book will acquaint you
with them and with him.
Displaying 1 of 1 review