Rose Kennedy

American philanthropist, mother of John F. Kennedy

Born: July 22, 1890 · Died: January 22, 1995

Famous Persons

Rose Kennedy — Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

Career

Their nine children included United States president John F. Kennedy, U.S.

Career

senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith.

Who was Rose Kennedy?

Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy (July 22, 1890 – January 22, 1995) was an American philanthropist, socialite, and matriarch of the Kennedy family. Her father, John F. Fitzgerald, served in the Massachusetts State Senate (1892–1894), in the U.S. House of Representatives (1895–1901, 1919), and as Mayor of Boston (1906–1908, 1910–1914). Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald was born, at 4 Garden Court in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Her father, John F. Fitzgerald, served in the Massachusetts State Senate (1892–1894), in the U.S. House of Representatives, and as Mayor of Boston. She was deeply embedded in the "lace curtain" Irish-American community in Boston. Her husband, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., chaired the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (1934–1935) and the U.S. Maritime Commission (1937–1938), and served as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1938–1940).

Rose Kennedy with her firstborn child, Joseph Jr., c. 1919

Historical significance

Their nine children included United States president John F. Kennedy, U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, U.S. senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith. In 1951, Rose Kennedy was ennobled by Pope Pius XII, becoming the sixth American woman to be granted the rank of papal countess.

The Kennedy family at their Kennedy Compound home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, 1931. Rose Kennedy is seated next to her husband.

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“Rose Kennedy.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/rose-kennedy/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Rose Kennedy. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/rose-kennedy/

Chicago

“Rose Kennedy.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/rose-kennedy/.

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