James Mackintosh Kennedy

James Mackintosh Kennedy (November 3, 1848 – August 14, 1922) was a Scottish-American poet, editor, and engineer.

Early life and education in Scotland

James was born on Carsegownie Farm, Aberlemno, Forfarshire (now Angus), in Scotland. He was the seventh of ten children born to David Kennedy (1817-1853) and Jessie Mackintosh (1813-1901). David, a mason, was killed in a quarry blast when James was five years old, leaving his widow with ten children of which four were under six years old. James attended the Parish School in Aberlemno for seven years, to age 12, after which he was employed as a shepherd. The local Presbyterian church gave him textbooks, and he named his sheep after Greek philosophers. and apprenticed as a machinist. He "took a prominent part in the agitation of 1865 for improving the condition of the agricultural classes." He continued studying oratory and Latin, and contributed to publications in Scotland and America. a long romantic poem, in 1872 at age 23.

James married Isabella Low, a Scottish immigrant from Easter Clune near Aberdeen, on December 12, 1873. Their service was performed by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. and in 1883 superintending the construction of the first locomotive built at the shops. and in the American Literary Yearbook, 1919.

James was actively involved in New York City labor politics between 1902 and 1912, being president of the Harlem Republican Club for eight years, and running for Board of Aldermen, Assemblyman, and Senate.

James died suddenly on August 14, 1922,

James Kennedy’s writings were published extensively in the Caledonian, a monthly journal for Scottish immigrants in the United States. His contributions included poetry, short stories, character sketches, and biographical articles.

Kennedy also published technical articles in Railway and Locomotive Engineering : A practical journal of railway motive power and rolling stock, published monthly by the Angus Sinclair Company, and a book on locomotive engineering. He became an associate editor for this journal in 1905 and became Editor-in-chief and President upon Sinclair’s death in 1919. 1883: Poems on Scottish and American Subjects. 1888: The Deeside Lass, and Other Poems. The long poem is the story of the laird’s son Donald who falls in love with the servant girl Jean who had been taken in as an orphan; the laird sees the virtues in Jean, but the laird’s wife is furious, and the pair run off. 1899: The Scottish and American Poems of James Kennedy. 1910: The valve setter's guide: A treatise on the construction and adjustment of the principal valve gearings used on American locomotives. 1920: The Complete Scottish and American Poems of James Kennedy.

Most of these books are available online and/or in reprint.

A sampling of his poems is presented below. Poem by James Mackintosh Kennedy. Scottish and American Poems, pp. 165-166. Poem by James Mackintosh Kennedy. Scottish and American Poems, pp. 55-56. Poem by James Mackintosh Kennedy. Scottish and American Poems, pp. 138-139. Poem by James Mackintosh Kennedy. Scottish and American Poems, p. 92. Kennedy's family has annotated a collection of his letters (Letters to My Daughters: 1910-1916) and compiled a biographical document. Below is an excerpt from a letter by James Kennedy to his daughter Isabella, written August 15, 1901, on the subject of "husbandry." I know if I were a young American woman and had an education and 10 blessed weeks to myself every summer and every Saturday and every holiday to myself – I would like to see the man I would look at twice. He would have to be somebody. Doubtless the young man may be the son of some substantial man which is a great thing and in this regard I would rather hear that you had gone to Africa and was happy and comfortable than see you come back here and take up with some ordinary “snipe” and climb six pair of stairs and occupy two rooms back with a full view of 10 feet of a back yard and never a blessed day to yourself but drudgery and scraping and washing and worrying and wondering where the rent was to come from -- O! I could lecture all night on this subject and fill pages with illustrations, but your own imagination is sufficient. There can be no harm in asking you who was the noblest lady ever sat on the throne of England? It was Elizabeth Tudor! Why – because husbandry had no attraction for her. Who was the most disturbing woman that ever had any authority in the British Isles? It was Mary Stuart – Why – because her fondness for husbandry. Who is the finest lady in this city to-day, honored by everybody and blessed by thousands? Mrs. Asterbilt! No – Mrs. Croker – not at all – It is Helen Gould – Why – because she keeps aloof from husbandry. Who is the finest lady in this spot? I mean outside the Kennedy family – It is Miss Emma Shay! Why – because husbandry has no attraction for her. How serene she is! and how beautiful! And how rosy youth walks with her and dwells around her, and when Loretta with a wheelbarrowful of children comes you would not think they were sisters – why? – because husbandry has set its foot upon her and she is withering away! Who is the finest lady in the Lady Macduff Circle? Outside the Kennedy family – It is Aunt Mary – Why? – Because she steers clear of husbandry and her light-heart and merry laugh abide with her forever! Amen!