Joseph P. Kennedy
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. 44th United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom In office January 17, 1938 – October 22, 1940 President Franklin D. Roosevelt Preceded by Robert Worth Bingham Succeeded by John Gilbert Winant 1st Chairman of the Maritime Commission In office 1936–1938 President Franklin D. Roosevelt Preceded by Office created Succeeded by Emory S. Land 1st Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission In office 1934–1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt Preceded by Office created Succeeded by James M. Landis Personal details Born Joseph Patrick Kennedy (1888-09-06)September 6, 1888 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Died November 18, 1969(1969-11-18) (aged 81) Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, U.S. Resting place Holyhood Cemetery Brookline, Massachusetts Political party Democratic Spouse(s) Rose Fitzgerald (m. 1914–69) Relations Patrick Kennedy (grandfather) Children Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. John F. Kennedy Rosemary Kennedy Kathleen Kennedy Eunice Kennedy Patricia Kennedy Robert F. Kennedy Jean Kennedy Edward "Ted" Kennedy Parents P. J. Kennedy Mary Augusta Hickey Alma mater Harvard University Profession Businessman, investor, government official Religion Catholicism Cause of death Complications from a stroke Signature Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. (September 6, 1888 – November 18, 1969) was an American businessman, investor, and government official. Kennedy was the husband of Rose Kennedy. Their children included President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968), and longtime Senator Ted Kennedy (1932–2009). He was a leading member of the Democratic Party and of the Irish Catholic community. He was the inaugural Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and later directed the Maritime Commission. Kennedy served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 until late 1940, including the early part of World War II. Born to a political family in East Boston, Massachusetts, Kennedy embarked on a career in business and investing, first making a large fortune as a stock market and commodity investor and later rolled over the profits by investing in real estate and a wide range of business industries across the United States. During World War I, he was an assistant general manager of a Boston area Bethlehem Steel shipyard, through which he developed a friendship with Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy. In the 1920s Kennedy made huge profits from reorganizing and refinancing several Hollywood studios, ultimately merging several acquisitions into Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) studios. After Prohibition of alcohol ended in 1933, Kennedy consolidated an even larger fortune when he traveled to Scotland with Roosevelt's son James to buy distribution rights for Scotch whisky. His company, Somerset Importers, became the exclusive American agent for Gordon's Gin and Dewar's Scotch. In addition, Kennedy purchased spirits-importation rights from Schenley Industries, a firm in Canada. He owned the largest office building in the country, Chicago's Merchandise Mart, giving his family an important base in that city and an alliance with the Irish-American political leadership there. His term as ambassador and his political ambitions ended abruptly during the Battle of Britain in November 1940, with the publishing of his controversial remarks suggesting that "Democracy is finished in England. It may be here, [in the US]." Kennedy resigned under pressure shortly afterwards. In later years, Kennedy worked behind the scenes to continue building the financial and political fortunes of the Kennedy family. After a disabling stroke in 1961, Kennedy developed aphasia and lost all power of speech, but remained mentally intact. He was confined to a wheelchair until his death in 1969.