Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.

American businessman, politician and diplomat (1888–1969)

Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. (September 6, 1888 – November 18, 1969) was a prominent American businessman, politician, investor, and government official. He served as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1934 through 1935.

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office
March 8, 1938 – October 22, 1940
MonarchGeorge VI
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byRobert Worth Bingham
Succeeded byJohn G. Winant
1st Chair of the U.S. Maritime Commission
In office
April 14, 1937 – February 19, 1938
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byEmory S. Land
1st Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
In office
June 30, 1934 – September 23, 1935
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJames M. Landis
Personal details
Born
Joseph Patrick Kennedy

(1888-09-06)September 6, 1888
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedNovember 18, 1969(1969-11-18) (aged 81)
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting placeHolyhood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
(m. 1914)
Children
ParentsP. J. Kennedy
Mary Augusta Hickey
RelativesSee Kennedy family
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Signature

Kennedy was the husband of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Their children included President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), Senator Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968), and longtime Senator Ted Kennedy (1932–2009). He served as the first chairman of the Maritime Commission from 1936 through 1938.

Kennedy served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 until late 1940, including the early part of World War II.

He died on November 18, 1969, two months after his 81st birthday. Joe Kennedy outlived three of his four sons; Ted would die nearly forty years later.

Early life

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Kennedy was born on September 6, 1888 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the eldest son of businessman and politician P. J. Kennedy (1858-1929) and Mary Augusta Hickey (1857-1923). He studied at the Boston Latin School and at Harvard College.

Personal life

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In 1914 he married Rose Fitzgerald. They were married until his death in 1969. They had nine children. Kennedy had an affair with Gloria Swanson.

Kennedy died on November 18, 1969 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts from a stroke, aged 81.

Other websites

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