The Kennedy family (Irish: Ó Cinnéide) is an American political family that has long been prominent in American politics, public service, entertainment, and business. In 1884, 35 years after the family's arrival from County Wexford, Ireland, Patrick Joseph "P. J." Kennedy became the first Kennedy elected to public office, serving in the Massachusetts state legislature until 1895. At least one Kennedy family member was serving in federal elective office in every year from 1947, when P. J. Kennedy's grandson John F. Kennedy became a member of Congress from Massachusetts, until 2011, when Patrick J. Kennedy II (John's nephew) retired as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island.
P. J.'s son Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and his wife, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, had nine children, including John F. Kennedy, who served in both houses of the United States Congress and as U.S. President; Robert F. Kennedy, who served as U.S. Attorney General and as a U.S. Senator; and Ted Kennedy, who served more than 46 years in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. currently serves as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services in the cabinet of the second presidency of Donald Trump.
Other Kennedy descendants include members of the U.S. House of Representatives, two U.S. ambassadors, one U.S. envoy, a lieutenant governor, three state legislators (one of whom also served in the U.S. House of Representatives), and one mayor. Joseph and Rose's daughter Eunice played a vital role in establishing the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (part of the National Institutes of Health) and the Special Olympics. Other descendants of Joseph and Rose Kennedy have been lawyers, authors, and activists on behalf of those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
History
According to genealogist Brian Kennedy in his work JFK's Irish O'Kennedy Ancestors, the Kennedys—who would go on to play a significant role in the United States of America—originated from an Irish clan called Ó Cinnéide Fionn (which, along with the Ó Cinnéide Donn and Ó Cinnéide Ruadh, were the three Irish Gaelic Ó Cinnéide clans who ruled the Kingdom of Ormond). In 1546, their progenitor Diarmaid Ó Cinnéide Fionn became the owner of Knigh Castle, located close to what is today Puckane, County Tipperary. In 1740, having lost out to the New English order in the Kingdom of Ireland, they moved to Dunganstown, New Ross, County Wexford. Patrick Kennedy was born there.
Patrick Kennedy (1823–1858) and Bridget Murphy (1824–1888) sailed from Ireland to East Boston in 1849. Patrick worked in East Boston as a barrel maker, or cooper, and had five children with Bridget. Their youngest, Patrick Joseph "P. J." Kennedy went into business and served in the Massachusetts state legislature from 1884 to 1895.
P. J. and his wife, Mary Augusta Hickey, had four children. Their oldest was Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy Sr., a businessman who amassed a private fortune in banking and securities trading, which he further expanded by investing in filmmaking and real estate. He also founded Somerset Importers and owned Chicago's Merchandise Mart.
In 1914, Joseph Sr. married Rose Fitzgerald, the eldest daughter of John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, who served six years as mayor of Boston and six years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The couple had nine children: Joseph Jr. (1915–1944), John (called Jack) (1917–1963), Rose Marie (called Rosemary) (1918–2005), Kathleen (called Kick) (1920–1948), Eunice (1921–2009), Patricia (1924–2006), Robert (called Bobby) (1925–1968), Jean (1928–2020) and Edward (called Ted) (1932–2009).
Joseph Sr. was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), chairman of the Maritime Commission, and U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1940. He served from 1947 to 1949 on The Hoover Commission (the "Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government"), which was appointed by President Harry Truman to recommend administrative changes in the federal government. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was named Papal Countess of the Holy Roman Church by Pope Pius XII in 1951 in recognition of her "exemplary motherhood and many charitable works."
Continued public service
Every Kennedy elected to public office has served as a Democrat, while other members of the family have worked for the party or held Cabinet posts in Democratic administrations. Many have attended Harvard University, and the family has contributed greatly to that university's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Joseph Sr. expected his eldest son, Joseph Jr., to go into politics and to ultimately be elected president. Joseph Jr. was elected as a Massachusetts delegate to the 1940 Democratic National Convention and enlisted in the U.S. Navy after the United States entered World War II. He was killed in 1944 when the bomber he was piloting exploded in flight. Joseph Sr.'s desire to see the family involved in politics and government then focused on John, who had considered a career as a journalist, having authored a book (Why England Slept) and done some reporting for Hearst Newspapers. After returning from Navy service, John served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Massachusetts's 11th congressional district from 1947 to 1953, and then as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from 1953 to 1960. In the 1960 presidential election, John narrowly defeated Republican opponent Richard Nixon.
During John's administration, Robert served as attorney general, their brother-in-law Sargent Shriver served as director of the new Peace Corps, and Ted became the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts until his death in 2009. The Kennedy administration's accomplishments include the Alliance for Progress with Latin America, the establishment of the Peace Corps, a peaceful resolution to the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963, the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution ending the poll tax, the continuation of the Apollo spaceflight program with the goal of landing a man on the Moon, and the introduction of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Congress (signed into law by Kennedy's successor Lyndon B. Johnson). The family was the subject of intense media coverage during and after Kennedy's presidency.
Ted served in the Senate with his brother Robert (1965–1968), and was serving in the Senate when his nephew, Joseph P. II, and his son, Patrick J., served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Massachusetts's 8th congressional district (1987–1999) and Rhode Island's 1st congressional district (1995–2011), respectively. In November 2012, Joseph P. Kennedy III, son of former U.S. representative Joseph P. Kennedy II and grandson of former senior Robert F. Kennedy, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. In 2020, Joseph P. III lost the U.S. Senate primary election in Massachusetts to incumbent Ed Markey, the first Kennedy to ever lose an election in the state.
In the 2020s, three Kennedy family members were serving as U.S. ambassadors or envoys. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, second wife of Ted Kennedy, was named in 2021 by President Joe Biden as U.S. ambassador to Austria. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy, was named in 2022 by President Biden as U.S. ambassador to Australia; she previously served as U.S. ambassador to Japan under President Barack Obama. In the same year, Joseph P. Kennedy III was named by President Biden as U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president in the 2024 United States presidential election, originally as a Democrat, but changing his affiliation to Independent in October 2023. Family members spoke out against him, mainly due to his anti-vaccine views, and instead endorsed President Joe Biden. In August 2024, two months before the election, Robert Jr. withdrew and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, who won the election. Trump nominated him to be United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 52-48.
Family tree
Patrick Joseph Kennedy (1858–1929), married Mary Augusta Hickey
Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr. (1888–1969), married Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald
Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr. (1915–1944)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963) married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier
Arabella Kennedy (1956, stillborn)
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (born 1957) married Edwin Arthur Schlossberg
Rose Kennedy Schlossberg (born 1988) married Rory McAuliffe
Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg (born 1990) married George Moran
Edwin Garrett Moran (born 2022)
John Bouvier "Jack" Kennedy Schlossberg (born 1993)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. (1960–1999) married Carolyn Jeanne Bessette
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (1963, died in infancy)
Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy (1918–2005)
Kathleen Agnes Kennedy (1920–1948) married William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington
Eunice Mary Kennedy (1921–2009) married Robert Sargent Shriver Jr.
Robert Sargent Shriver III (born 1954) married Malissa Feruzzi and had 1 daughter
Maria Owings Shriver (born 1955) married/divorced Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger
Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger (born 1989) married Christopher Michael Pratt and had 3 children
Lyla Maria Schwarzenegger Pratt (born 2020)
Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt (born 2022)
Ford Fitzgerald Schwarzenegger Pratt (born 2024)
Christina Schwarzenegger (born 1991)
Patrick Arnold Shriver Schwarzenegger (born 1993)
Christopher Schwarzenegger (born 1997)
Timothy Perry Shriver (born 1959) married Linda Potter and had 5 children
Sophia Rose Shriver (born 1987)
Timothy Perry Shriver, Jr. (born 1988)
Samuel Kennedy Shriver (born 1992)
Kathleen Francis Shriver (born 1994)
Caroline Elizabeth Shriver (born 1997)
Mark Kennedy Shriver (born 1964) married Jeanne Ripp and had 3 children
Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver (born 1965) married/divorced Alina Mojica and had 5 children
Patricia Helen Kennedy (1924–2006) married/divorced Peter Lawford
Christopher Kennedy Lawford (1955–2018)
Sydney Maleia Lawford (born 1956)
Victoria Francis Lawford (born 1958)
Robin Elizabeth Lawford (born 1961)
Robert Francis Kennedy (1925–1968) married Ethel Skakel
Kathleen Hartington Kennedy (born 1951) married David Townsend
Meaghan Anne Kennedy Townsend (born 1977)
Maeve Fahey Kennedy Townsend (1979–2020) married David McKean
Rose Katherine "Kat" Kennedy Townsend (born 1983)
Kerry Sophia Kennedy Townsend (born 1991)
Joseph Patrick Kennedy II (born 1952) married/divorced Sheila Brewster Rauch married Anne Elizabeth "Beth" Kelly
Matthew Rauch Kennedy (born 1980, of first marriage)
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III (born 1980, of first marriage) married Lauren Anne Birchfield
Eleanor Kennedy (born 2015)
James Kennedy (born 2017)
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. (born 1954) married/divorced Emily Black, married Mary Kathleen Richardson, married Cheryl Hines
Robert Francis Kennedy III (born 1984, of first marriage) married Amaryllis Fox
Bobby Kennedy
Cassius Kennedy
Kathleen Alexandra "Kick" Kennedy (born 1988, of first marriage)
Conor Richardson Kennedy (born 1994, of second marriage)
Kyra LeMoyne Kennedy (born 1995, of second marriage)
William Finbar "Finn" Kennedy (born 1997, of second marriage)
Aidan Caohman Vieques Kennedy (born 2001, of second marriage)
David Anthony Kennedy (1955–1984)
Mary Courtney Kennedy (born 1956) married/divorced Robert Ruhe, married Paul Hill
Saoirse Roisin Hill (1997–2019, of second marriage)
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy (1958–1997) married Victoria Denise Gifford
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy Jr. (born 1983)
Kyle Francis Kennedy (born 1984)
Rory Gifford Kennedy (born 1987)
Mary Kerry Kennedy (born 1959) married/divorced Andrew Mark Cuomo
Cara Ethel Kennedy-Cuomo (born 1995)
Mariah Matilda Kennedy-Cuomo (born 1995)
Michaela Andrea Kennedy-Cuomo (born 1997)
Christopher George Kennedy (born 1963) married Sheila Sinclair Berner
Katherine Berner Kennedy (born 1990)
Christopher George Kennedy Jr. (born 1992) married Erin Daigle
Sarah Louise Kennedy (born 1994) married Jam Sulahry
Clare Elizabeth Kennedy (born 1998)
Matthew Maxwell Taylor Kennedy (born 1965) married Victoria Anne Strauss
Matthew Maxwell Taylor Kennedy Jr. (born 1993)
Caroline Summer Rose Kennedy (born 1994)
Noah Isabella Rose Kennedy (born 1998)
Douglas Harriman Kennedy (born 1967) married Molly Stark
Riley Elizabeth Kennedy (born 1999)
Mary McCauley Kennedy (born 2001)
Rowen Frances Kennedy (born 2004)
George Skakel Kennedy (born 2007)
Anthony Boru Kennedy (born 2012)
Rory Elizabeth Katherine Kennedy (born 1968) married Mark Daniel Bailey
Georgia Elizabeth Kennedy-Bailey (born 2002)
Bridget Katherine Kennedy-Bailey (born 2004)
Zachary Corkland Kennedy-Bailey (born 2007)
Jean Ann Kennedy (1928–2020) married Stephen Edward Smith
Stephen Edward Smith, Jr. (born 1957)
William Kennedy Smith (born 1960)
Amanda Mary Smith (born 1967, adopted)
Kym Maria Smith (born 1972, adopted)
Edward Moore Kennedy (1932–2009) married/divorced Virginia Joan Bennett, married Victoria Anne Reggie
Kara Anne Kennedy (1960–2011, of first marriage) married/divorced Michael Allen
Grace Elizabeth Allen (born 1994)
Max Greathouse Allen (born 1996)
Edward Moore Kennedy Jr. (born 1961, of first marriage) married Katherine Anne "Kiki" Gershman
Kiley Elizabeth Kennedy (born 1994)
Edward Moore Kennedy III (born 1998)
Patrick Joseph Kennedy II (born 1967, of first marriage) married Amy Savell
Owen Patrick Kennedy (born 2012)
Nora Kara Kennedy (born 2013)
Nell Elizabeth Kennedy (born 2015)
Marshall Patrick Kennedy (born 2018)
Francis Benedict Kennedy (1891–1892) (died in infancy)
Mary Loretta Kennedy (1892–1972), married George William Connelly and had 1 daughter.
Margaret Louise Kennedy (1898–1974), married Charles Joseph Burke and had 3 children.
Businesses
Citizens Energy Corporation
Columbia Trust Company
FBO Pictures Corporation
George
Hialeah Park Race Track
Intercontinental Rubber Company
Kennedy & Madonna LLP (law firm)
Kenoil Corporation
Marwood Group (healthcare-focused consulting firm)
Mokeen Oil Company
Old Colony Realty Associates
RKO Pictures
Somerset Imports
Sumner Savings Bank
Wolf Point, Chicago
Wolf Point East Tower
Salesforce Tower Chicago
Philanthropy and policy institutes
Advocates for Opioid Recovery
Best Buddies International
Citizens Energy Corporation
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
Global Recovery Initiative
John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation
Robert F. Kennedy Center For Justice & Human Rights
Smart Approaches to Marijuana
Special Olympics
Stop Handgun Violence
Top Box Foods
VSA (Kennedy Center)
White House Historical Association
Waterkeeper Alliance
Government offices held
Patrick Joseph Kennedy: Massachusetts State Representative, 1884–1889; Massachusetts state Senator, 1889–1895.
Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr.: Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 1934–1935; chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, 1936–1938; United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1938–1940.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: United States Representative from Massachusetts, 1947–1953; United States Senator from Massachusetts, 1953–1960; President of the United States, 1961–1963.
Caroline Kennedy: United States Ambassador to Japan, 2013–2017; United States Ambassador to Australia, 2022–2024.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Bobby Shriver: Santa Monica, California City Council member, 2004–2012; Mayor of Santa Monica, 2010.
Mark Kennedy Shriver: Maryland state Delegate, 1995–2003.
Robert Francis Kennedy: United States Attorney General, 1961–1964; United States Senator from New York, 1965–1968.
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: Lieutenant governor of Maryland, 1995–2003.
Joseph P. Kennedy II: United States Representative from Massachusetts, 1987–1999.
Joseph P. Kennedy III: United States Representative from Massachusetts, 2013–2021; U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland, 2022–2024
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.: United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, 2025–present.
Jean Kennedy Smith: United States Ambassador to Ireland, 1993-1998
William Kennedy Smith: Commissioner of the District of Columbia from district 2A04, 2015–2020
Edward Moore Kennedy: United States Senator from Massachusetts, 1962–2009.
Edward M. Kennedy Jr.: Connecticut state Senator, 2015–2019.
Patrick J. Kennedy: Rhode Island State Representative, 1989–1993; United States Representative from Rhode Island–2011.
In addition, some Kennedy spouses have served in government:
Andrew Cuomo (then-husband of Kerry Kennedy): United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1997–2001. After their divorce, he served as New York state attorney general (2007–2010) and New York governor (2011–2021).
Victoria Reggie Kennedy (widow of Ted Kennedy): U.S. ambassador to Austria, 2022–2025
Arnold Schwarzenegger (then-husband of Maria Shriver): governor of California, 2003–2011
Sargent Shriver (husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver): president of the Chicago Board of Education, 1955–1960; director of the Peace Corps, 1961–1966; director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, 1964–1968; U.S. ambassador to France, 1968–1970
There was a member of the Kennedy family in public office nearly continuously from 1946, when John F. Kennedy was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, until early 2011, when Patrick J. Kennedy left the House. The only exception was the period between John F. Kennedy's resignation from the Senate on December 22, 1960, and his assumption of the office of President on January 20, 1961. In 2013, two years after Patrick Kennedy left the House; Joseph P. Kennedy III was elected U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and served until 2021. Below is a timeline of the Kennedys' tenure in the U.S. Congress.
Heraldry
On March 17, 1961, John F. Kennedy was presented with a grant of arms for all the descendants of Patrick Kennedy (1823–1858) from the Chief Herald of Ireland. The design of the arms (three gold closed helmets on a black field) strongly alludes to symbols in the coats of arms of the O'Kennedys of Ormonde and the FitzGeralds of Desmond, from whom the family is descended. The crest is an armored hand holding four arrows between two olive branches, elements taken from the coat of arms of the United States of America and also symbolic of Kennedy and his brothers.
Coat of arms of the Kennedy family
Granted: 1961
Armiger: All the descendants of Patrick Kennedy (1823–1858)
Crest: Between two olive branches a cubit sinister arm in armor erect, the hand holding a sheaf of four arrows, points upward, all proper
Escutcheon: Sable three helmets in profile or within a bordure per saltire Gules and Ermine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_family
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