Warring Kennedy
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Warring Kennedy | |
|---|---|
 Kennedy in an 1880 engraving | |
| 28th Mayor of Toronto | |
| In office 1894–1895 | |
| Preceded by | Robert John Fleming |
| Succeeded by | Robert John Fleming |
| Toronto St. John's Ward Alderman | |
| In office 1871-1877 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 November 1827 |
| Died | 25 June 1904 (aged 76) Toronto, Ontario |
| Resting place | Plot J, Lot 16, Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
Warring Kennedy (12 November 1827 – 25 June 1904) was a Canadian politician and businessman who served as Mayor of Toronto from 1894 to 1895. He was born and educated in Ireland and immigrated to Toronto in 1857. He opened a dried goods company and participated in political organisastions and Methodist conferences. He was elected as alderman in the Toronto City Council, representing St. John's Ward, in 1871. He was unsuccessful in his first run for mayor in 1877, but was successful in his second attempt in 1894 and his reelection the following year. Kennedy's terms as mayor were negatively affected by an economic downturn in Toronto and allegations of corruption within the Toronto administration, including a report that accused Kennedy of improper acts. His company went bankrupt in 1895 and Kennedy left municipal office. He worked as an insurance agent and sat on the boards of various philanthropic organisations. He died in Toronto and is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
He was born in County Down, Ireland, on 12 November 1827,[1] he attended a grammar school in Derry and apprenticed at a dried food business in Kilrea. He later moved to Belfast before immigrating to Toronto in 1857. He worked first for the firm of Robert Walker, known as The Golden Lion,[1] and then for John Macdonald & Company.[1][2]
In 1869, Kennedy and two others opened a wholesale dry goods firm called Sampson, Kennedy and Gemmel. It was later renamed Sampson, Kennedy & Company after the death of Gemmel.[1] The business was located in a warehouse at Scott and Colborne Streets in Toronto and they sold fabric and sewing goods. Kennedy was the general manager of the warehouse and managed purchases. He was also involved in several political organisations including the Toronto Board of Trade, the Yorkville and Toronto Christian Temperance Mission, and the Upper Canada Bible Society. He was also secretary of the Toronto Conference of Methodists and a delegate at the 1890 Methodist ecumenical council.[2]
