Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 30.djvu/443

 and for a short time afterwards was probably a journalist in Hull, where he married his employer's daughter. Settling in London in 1830 he engaged in literary work, and collaborated with Leitch Ritchie [q. v.] Mrs. Howitt, in her ‘Autobiography,’ writing to her sister on 27 April 1830, mentions Kennedy as one of a literary group fancifully delineated in ‘Romance and Reality.’

An acquaintanceship, begun in 1833, resulted in Kennedy's appointment as secretary to the Earl of Durham, when he went to Canada in 1838 as governor-general. After the earl's retirement at the end of the year Kennedy travelled in America, and sent to London a municipal report on Canadian institutions, which was printed for parliamentary use. He studied the question of local government in the principal cities of the United States, and settled for some months in Texas, where he formed lasting friendships with leading men and amassed materials for a history of that country. Returning to England at the end of 1839 he strenuously advocated the interests of the Texans, condemning in a published letter O'Connell's suggestion that their independence should be recognised only with the consent of Mexico. In December 1841 he went as British consul to Galveston, Texas, whence he returned in 1847 in broken health. Sojourning for a time in Glasgow, he amused himself in translating German ballads and songs along with Mr. A. J. Symington, who remembers that Kennedy frequently read to him from a manuscript volume of poems, which has disappeared. A visit to Motherwell's grave in Glasgow necropolis prompted the memorial poem given in Motherwell's ‘Works,’ p. 288, ed. 1881. In 1849 Kennedy retired on a pension, first to the neighbourhood of London, and afterwards to Paris, where he was a confirmed invalid till his death in 1871.

After an unimportant story entitled ‘My Early Days,’ Kennedy won popularity in 1827 with ‘Fitful Fancies,’ a collection of short poems, including a spirited lyric entitled ‘Ned Bolton’ (published at Edinburgh). In 1830 appeared ‘The Arrow and the Rose, and other Poems,’ his best-known work. The leading poem tells, evenly and gracefully, the love-story of the Prince of Bearn and Fleurette, the gardener's daughter. The collection also includes twelve short lyrics and nine songs. There followed ‘The Continental Annual and Romantic Cabinet for 1832,’ London, 1831, 8vo, and ‘The Siege of Antwerp, an historical play,’ London, 1838, 8vo. In 1841 Kennedy published, in two volumes 8vo, with an autobiographical preface, ‘The Rise, Progress, and Prospects of the Republic of Texas,’ which is written with ample knowledge, intelligence, and vigour. Many of Kennedy's lyrics are in ‘Whistle Binkie.’

 KENNEDY, WILLIAM DENHOLM (1813–1865), painter, born at Dumfries on 16 June 1813, was educated in early life at Edinburgh. When seventeen years of age he came to London, and in 1833 entered the school of the Royal Academy. Here he began a lifelong friendship with William Etty, R.A. [q. v.], who sensibly influenced his style as an artist. In 1833 he sent his first pictures to the Royal Academy, ‘A Musical Party’ and ‘The Toilet,’ and continued to exhibit there almost every year until his death. In 1835 he won the Academy gold medal for an historical painting, ‘Apollo and Idas,’ and in 1840, being awarded the travelling allowance, went to Italy, where he spent two years in study at Rome. He returned with many sketches and studies of Italian scenery, and an Italian influence was subsequently visible in his work, especially in such pictures as ‘The Bandit Mother,’ ‘The Italian Goatherd,’ ‘The Land of Poetry and Song,’ &c. Kennedy, however, failed to fulfil his early promise, and his work deteriorated. He died suddenly at his house in Soho Square on 2 June 1865. Kennedy was a cultivated man, fond of music, and a good judge of etchings and engravings. His subjects for painting embraced almost everything except portraiture. He occasionally exhibited at the other leading exhibitions besides the Academy. He frequently assisted Thomas Willement [q. v.] with designs for stained glass, among others those for the windows in St. Stephen's, Walbrook, London.

 KENNETH I, (d. 860), king of the Scots, was son of Alpin, king of the Dalriad Scots. His father, according to the ‘Chronicle of Huntingdon,’ which Fordoun follows, was slain in battle with the Picts on 20 July 834, and was at once succeeded by Kenneth as king, apparently only in Galloway. According to the same authority Kenneth became king of the Dalriad Scots about ten years later; in the seventh year after his