Born – 22nd July 1890
Died – 22nd January 1995
Father – John F Fitzgerald (1863 – 1950)
Mother – Mary Josephine Hannon (1865 – 1964)
Spouse – m. 1914 – Joseph Kennedy (1888 – 1969)
Children – Joseph Jr (1915 – 1944), John (1917 – 1963), Rosemary (1918 – 2005), Kathleen (1920 – 1948), Eunice (1921 – 2009), Patricia (1924 – 2006), Robert (1925 – 1968), Jean (1928 – 2020), Edward (1932 – 2009)
Known to History – Mother of President John F Kennedy and Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy
1890 (22nd July)
Rose Kennedy was born Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald, to John F Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon in Boston. She was the couple’s first child.
1892 (1st November)
Rose’s sister, Mary Agnes, was born to John F Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon in Boston.
1895 (1st November)
Rose’s brother, Thomas Acton, was born to John F Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon in Boston.
1897 (7th December)
Rose’s brother, John Francis, was born to John F Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon in Boston.
1900 (16th January)
Rose’s sister, Eunice, was born to John F Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon in Boston.
1900 (around)
Rose attended the Boston Latin Academy.
1903 (around)
Rose attended Dorchester High School in Boston.
1904 (3rd December)
Rose’s brother Frederick Hannon, was born to John F Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon in Boston.
1906 (around)
Rose attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart.
1908 (during)
Rose and her father made a tour of Europe. During the visit they met with the Pope.
1912 (during)
Rose began a relationship with businessman, Joseph Kennedy.
1914 (7th October)
Rose Fitzgerald married Joseph P Kennedy in the private chapel of William Cardinal O’Connell Church in Boston. They made their home in Brookline, Massachusetts.
1915 (12th August)
A son, Joseph Patrick Jr was born in Brookline Massachusetts to Joseph Patrick and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was known as Joe.
1917 (29th May)
A son, John Fitzgerald was born in Brookline Massachusetts to Joseph Patrick and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was known as Jack. (known as Joe) was born on 25th July 1915
1918 (13th September)
A daughter, Rose Marie (known as Rosemary), was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Brookline, Massachusetts.
1919 (during)
Rose’s son, John, caught scarlet fever and was in hospital for 8 weeks.
1920 (20th February)
A daughter, Kathleen Agnes (known as Kick) was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Brookline, Massachusetts.
1921 (10th July)
A daughter, Eunice Mary, was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Brookline, Massachusetts.
1923 (during)
Joseph P Kennedy became a private banker. He offered financial services to clients.
1924 (6th May)
A daughter, Patricia Helen (known as Pat), was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Brookline, Massachusetts.
1925 (20th November)
A son, Robert Francis (known as Bobby) was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Brookline, Massachusetts.
1926 (February)
Having made around $2 million from his banking business, Kennedy bought Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) for around $1 million.
1926 (Spring)
Joseph Kennedy moved to Hollywood to oversee FBO. Rose and the children remained in Boston.
1927 (September)
The Kennedy family moved to Riverdale, New York to avoid an outbreak of polio.
1928 (during)
Joseph began an affair with actress Gloria Swanson. Rose, a devout Catholic, turned a blind eye to this and her husband’s other affairs.
1928 (during)
Joseph Kennedy purchased a property at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
1928 (20th February)
A daughter, Jean Ann was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Boston, Massachusetts.
1928 (October)
Kennedy helped arrange the merger of FBO and Keith Albee Orpheum to form Radio Keith Orpheum (RKO). He sold his stock in FBO for around $5 million.
1929 (during)
The Kennedy family moved to Bronxville.
1929 (October)
Joseph Kennedy had sold most of his investments by the time of the Wall Street Stock Market crash. During the depression that followed he put his money into property.
1931 (during)
The affair between Kennedy and actress Gloria Swanson ended.
1932 (during)
Joseph Kennedy was a member of the Democratic Party of the United States. He donated money to the campaign of Franklin D Roosevelt.
1932 (22nd February)
A son, Edward Moore (known as Ted) was born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy at Boston, Massachusetts.
1932 (8th November)
Franklin D Roosevelt was elected President of the United States.
1933 (22nd March)
President Franklin D Roosevelt ended Prohibition in America.
1933 (April)
With an end to Prohibition, Joseph Kennedy began investing in Scottish whisky. Together with Roosevelt’s son, James, Kennedy formed Somerset Importers which became the exclusive American importer for Haig Scotch whisky, Dewar’s Scotch whisky and Gordon’s Gin.
1934 (during)
Franklin D Roosevelt appointed Kennedy chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was tasked with ending malpractice on Wall Street.
1935 (September)
Joseph and Rose Kennedy took a holiday travelling in Europe. They took their children John and Kathleen with them. John hoped to enrol in the London School of Economics but became ill and returned to America.
1936 (during)
Joseph P Kennedy again supported Roosevelt’s campaign for re-election as President of the United States. He published a book entitled ‘I’m for Roosevelt’ and made sure it was widely read.
1936 (November)
Franklin D Roosevelt was re-elected President of the United States.
1937 (early)
Kennedy was appointed chair of the United States Maritime Commission. His role was to increase the fortune of the United States shipping industry.
1937 (December)
Joseph Kennedy was appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom.
1938 (early)
The Kennedy family moved to London.
1939 (3rd September)
The British government declared war on Germany after Germany had invaded Poland on 1st December beginning World War Two.
1939 (19th September)
The youngest Kennedy children, Robert, Jean and Edward were sent back to the United States.
1940 (during)
Joseph Kennedy was a strong advocate of the United States remaining neutral during World War Two. This created tension between himself and the British government who were at war.
1940 (July)
Kennedy was openly stating that Britain would fall and that Germany was likely to win the war. He thought that America should withdraw support to Britain.
1940 (Summer)
Despite his opposition to Roosevelt seeking election for a third term, believing that his election would take the United States into the Second World War, Kennedy continued to support his re-election campaign.
1940 (November)
Roosevelt was elected President for a third term. He did not agree with Kennedy’s suggestion that America abandon Britain. Kennedy had miscalculated and was forced to resign.
1941 (during)
Joseph Kennedy signed a consent for his daughter, Rosemary, who was intellectually disabled, to have a lobotomy. The procedure failed and left her unable to communicate. Joseph arranged for her to be institutionalised.
1943 (2nd August)
Kennedy’s son, John, was commander of a torpedo boat, PT-109. The boat sank after being rammed by a Japanese ship in Blackett Strait, North Solomon Islands. John Kennedy was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery in saving crew members.
1944 (6th May)
Rose Kennedy’s daughter, Kathleen, married William Cavendish, eldest son of the Duke of Devonshire. Rose and Joseph Kennedy did not approve of the marriage to a Protestant and did not attend the ceremony.
1944 (12th August)
Rose Kennedy’s eldest son, Joseph Jr, who was serving in the US airforce, was killed.
1944 (9th September)
Kennedy’s son-in-law, William Cavendish, was killed in action in Belgium.
1946 (during)
Rose Kennedy was furious when she discovered that her daughter, Kathleen was having an affair with married Protestant Earl, Peter Fitzwilliam. She threatened to expel Kathleen from the family if she persisted with the affair.
1946 (17th June)
Joseph Kennedy’s fall from favour signalled the end of his own political career. He channelled his political ambitions through his son John who won the Democratic Primary for the Eleventh Congressional District in Boston, Massachusetts.
1946 (November)
John Kennedy was elected to the House of Representatives.
1948 (13th May)
Kathleen Kennedy and her lover Peter Fitzwilliam were killed in a plane crash. They had been travelling to Paris to meet Joseph Kennedy to try to effect a reconciliation with the family.
1948 (Autumn)
Rose’s son, John was elected for a second term in the House of Representatives.
1950 (17th June)
Rose’s son Robert married Ethel Skakel, daughter of businessman George Skakel, at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenwich, Connecticut.
1950 (November)
Kennedy’s son, John, was elected for a third term in the House of Representatives.
1952 (June)
Robert (Bobby) Kennedy resigned his post at the US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn to become campaign manager for John’s election to the Senate.
1952 (November)
John Kennedy beat Republican candidate Henry Cabot Lodge and was elected to the U S Senate.
1953 (23rd May)
Rose’s daughter Eunice married politician Sargent Shriver at St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York.
1953 (12th September)
Rose’s son, John Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier, daughter of John Vernon and Janet Lee Bouvier at St Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. The wedding was followed by a reception at Hammersmith Farm which was attended by around 1200 people.
1954 (23rd April)
Rose’s daughter Patricia married actor Peter Lawford at the Church of St Thomas More, New York.
1956 (19th May)
Rose’s daughter Jean married businessman Stephen Edward Smith at St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York.
1958 (8th November)
Kennedy’s son John was re-elected for a second term in the Senate.
1958 (29th November)
Rose’s son Edward married Joan Bennett at St Joseph’s Church, Bronxville, New York.
1960 (2nd January)
John Kennedy announced his intention to run for President of the United States.
1960 (13th July)
John Kennedy won the Democratic nomination for President. He chose Lyndon Johnson as his running mate.
1960 (26th September)
John Kennedy and Republican Candidate Richard Nixon took part in the first televised presidential debate.
1960 (November)
John Kennedy was elected 35th President of the United States.
1961 (20th January)
John Kennedy was sworn in as President of the United States. He was the youngest elected President and the first Roman Catholic President. During his inaugural speech he spoke his famous words “ask not what your country can do for you .. ask what you can do for your country”.
1961 (January)
Robert Kennedy was appointed Attorney General.
1961 (19th December)
Joseph Kennedy suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak and paralysed on the right side of his body.
1962 (7th November)
Edward Kennedy, Joseph’s youngest son, became Senator for Massachusetts.
1963 (21st November)
John and Jackie Kennedy began a tour of Texas.
1963 (22nd November, 12.30 pm)
John Kennedy was shot in the head in Dealey Plaza, Elm Street, Dallas, Texas as he was riding in an open-top limousine. He was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead by doctors.
1963 (22nd November, 1.50 pm)
Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
1963 (24th November)
Jack Ruby assassinated Lee Harvey Oswald.
1963 (25th November)
Rose Kennedy was in Washington for the funeral of her son, John F Kennedy at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle in Washington and his interrment in Arlington National Cemetery.
1963 (late)
Robert Kennedy resigned as Attorney General.
1964 (22nd August)
Robert Kennedy announced his intention to stand for election as US Senator for New York.
1964 (November)
Lyndon Johnson was elected President of the United States by a large majority. Robert Kennedy was elected Senator for New York in the election.
1966 (during)
Rose’s daughter, Patricia, and her husband Peter Lawford, were divorced.
1968 (16th March)
Robert Kennedy announced his intention to stand for nomination as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency.
1968 (20th July)
Rose’s daughter, Eunice, founded the Special Olympics.
1968 (5th June)
At just after midnight, Robert Kennedy left the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel for the press room. He was taken through the hotel kitchen as it was a short cut. He was shot three times by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, a Palestinian national, and fell to the floor. Five other people were wounded.
1968 (6th June)
Robert Kennedy was died from the injuries sustained in the shooting.
1968 (8th June)
After a funeral service at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Robert Kennedy was buried at Arlington Cemetery next to his brother John.
1969 (18th November)
Joseph Kennedy died at Hyannis Port. He was buried at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts.
1974 (during)
Rose Kennedy published her autobiography ‘Times to Remember’.
1982 (during)
Edward Kennedy and his wife, Jean, divorced.
1984 (during)
Rose Kennedy suffered a stroke which left her unable to walk unaided.
1995 (22nd January)
Rose Kennedy died at Hyannis Port. She was buried at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts.
Published Jun 2, 2020 @ 12:33 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2020). Rose Kennedy 1890 – 1995. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/rose-kennedy-1890-1995. Last accessed [date]