Sir Edward Kenny, (1 July 1800 – 16 May 1891) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

politician and businessman. He co-founded the Union and Merchants' banks and served as

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. He was a

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senator from 1867 to 1876.

Early life and business career

Kenny was born in County Kerry,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, the son of Jeremiah Kenny (of Ballykeally, Esq.) and Johanna ( Crean). He began working for James Lyons, a merchant with connections with

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348 ...

, and moved to the city in 1824 where he worked as Assistant manager at James Lyons and Co. In 1827, he and his older brother, Thomas Kenny of Sherwood, opened their own company in Halifax, T. & E. Kenny - Dry Goods & Shipping. Kenny married Ann Forrestall (daughter of Michael Forrestall, Esq., of Halifax) in Halifax on 16 October 1832. Together they had 13 children, 7 boys and 6 girls. The first born, Thomas Edward Kenny, born 12 October 1833 in Halifax, later became president of the Royal Bank of Canada. In 1855, he became Director of the Union Bank in Halifax. On 26 April 1864, he opened the Merchant's Bank, which later became the Royal Bank of Canada, with seven partners (J.W. Merkell, T.C. Kinnear, James B. Duffus, William Cunard, John Tobin, George P. Mitchell and Jeremiah Nothup). In 1872, Kenny became a director of Sir

Hugh Allan Sir Hugh Allan (September 29, 1810 – December 9, 1882) was a Scottish-Canadian shipping magnate, financier and capitalist. By the time of his death, the Allan Shipping Line had become the largest privately owned shipping empire in the wor ...

's Canadian Pacific Railway. Kenny was a representative of Canada's

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population. On 8 February 1872, he travelled with Lady Kenny to Rome to meet Pope Pius IX.

Political career

Kenny became Junior Assistant V.P. of the

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in 1834 and Vice President in 1836. He became president of the organization in 1841. In 1841, he was appointed a Member of the

Legislative Council of Nova Scotia The Legislative Council of Nova Scotia was the upper house of the legislature of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It existed from 1838 to May 31, 1928. From the establishment of responsible government in 1848, members were appointed by th ...

, becoming its president on 9 April 1856, replacing Michael Tobin, Jr. He was also elected an Alderman for Ward 3 in Halifax in 1841. In 1842, he was elected

. On 22 January 1862, Kenny and 14 other distinguished gentlemen of Halifax met in the Hollis Street office of Robie Uniacke to organize what was to become known as The Halifax Club. The other founding members of the club were William A. Black, Mathers Byles Almon, Edward Binney, Captain W.W. Lyttleton, Colonel W.J. Myers, S.A. White, James C. Cogswell, Henry Pryor, John Tobin, Robert Morrow, Alfred G. Jones, M.B. Almon Jr. and William Cunard. In May 1867, Kenny was appointed to the Senate of Canada representing senatorial division of Nova Scotia. A

, he was

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from 1 July 1867 to 16 November 1869 and President of the Privy Council from 1869 to 1870, when he was knighted. He resigned from the Senate on 11 April 1876. He died in his home at 167 Pleasant Street, Halifax, on 16 May 1891.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kenny, Edward 1800 births 1891 deaths Canadian senators from Nova Scotia Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) senators Members of the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia Irish emigrants to pre-Confederation Nova Scotia Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada Canadian Knights Bachelor Mayors of Halifax, Nova Scotia