Francis Kelly

Image
Biographical Information
Family Name
Kelly
Given Name
Francis
Associated Dates
1806-05-00 - 1879-04-19
Affiliation
Served during the following dates
1858-00-00;1863-00-00;1867-00-00;1870-00-00;1873-00-00;1876-00-00
Occupation
Teacher, law clerk, land surveyor and agent, farmer, postmaster, justice of the peace, commissioner for affidavits
Biography
KELLY, FRANCIS, teacher, law clerk, land surveyor and agent, farmer, postmaster, justice of the peace, and commissioner for affidavits; b. ca. May 1806, in Mulloloughan, Monaghan County, Ireland, son of Donagh O'Kelly; m. first May 1835 Catherine Lennon of Tullycorbet in Ireland, and they had seven children, Elizabeth, James Edmond, John, Thomas, Ann, Margaret, and Francis; m. secondly Sarah McCarron, and they also had seven children, Edwin, Peter, Charles, Mary, Sarah, Lucius Owen*, and Susan; Roman Catholic; d. 19 April 1879 in Fort Augustus. Kelly, at various times a Liberal and a Conservative, was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1858 for 3rd Queens. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1863, 1867, 1870, 1873, and 1876. He was defeated twice in the 1840s and in the general election of 1872. Kelly held the seat almost uninterrupted until his death. He was a member of Executive Council and Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands. Kelly's son, Lucius Owen*, also served as a member of the House of Assembly for 3rd Queens. In 1870 an internal crisis within the Liberal government over the granting of public funds to St. Dunstan's College caused Kelly and six other Catholic Assemblymen to leave the Liberal party and join the Conservatives. He was in the forefront of attempts by the Church to gain educational concessions. The crisis brought the Conservatives to power, and as a reward for his efforts Kelly was made Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands. He was opposed to Confederation, but eventually joined Premier J. C. Pope* to seek better terms from Canada, given the financial state of the railway. Kelly also sought easier conditions for tenants seeking to become owners of the land upon which they were tenants. Kelly was educated in Mulloloughan and Dublin, Ireland. In Dublin he worked as a teacher and a law clerk. Francis Kelly came to PEI in May 1835 and settled in Fort Augustus. Upon his arrival in PEI, he became a land surveyor and land agent for Reverend John McDonald until 1846. Kelly was a farmer, served as postmaster, justice of the peace and commissioner for affidavits, and as commissioner for establishing the boundaries of counties and townships. He was a member of the Board of Works and the Board of Education. Kelly served as a governor of Prince of Wales College, as a governor of St. Andrew's Roman Catholic College, and as a church trustee. In support of his agricultural interests, Kelly was a member of the Royal Agricultural Society. He was also involved in the military, and served as captain of 2nd Queens County Regiment of the militia. Catherine Kelly was born ca. 1820 and died in 1842. Sarah Kelly died ca. 7 August 1901.
References
CPG 1876; DCBX 1871-1880 pp. 397-98; Charlottetown Herald 14 August 1^01. 19 August 1901; Colonial Herald 11 July 1840, 24 October 1840; Daily Examiner 19 April 1879; Examiner 22 February 1882; Islander 1 January 1847; Royal Gazette 24 May 1836; PARO: MNI-Hutchinson's pp. 234. 238; Personal Collection of Danny Keoughan.
Category
Biography
Title
Francis Kelly
Contributors
Contributor: Kelly, Francis
Place Published
Charlottetown, PE
Language
Genre
Geographic - Continent
Geographic - Country
Geographic - Province/State
Geographic - County
Geographic - Region
Local Identifier
leg:27572
Rights
This material is provided for research, education, and private use only.