Kennedy Francis Burns

Who was Kennedy Francis Burns?

Kennedy Francis Burns was a Canadian businessman and politician.

Born in Thomastown, Republic of Ireland, he emigrated to British North America. He worked as a clerk for a merchant at Chatham, New Brunswick and bought his employer's store at Bathurst in 1863. In 1865, Burns married Harriet McKenna. After he acquired property on the Caraquet River including a sawmill, he entered the lumber trade. He also became involved with the Caraquet Railway, later serving as its president.

Burns was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1874 for Gloucester County, serving until 1878. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons representing the New Brunswick riding of Gloucester in the 1882 federal elections. A Liberal, he was re-elected in the 1887 election and the 1891 election. In 1893, he was summoned to the Canadian Senate. He sat as a Liberal and represented the senatorial division of New Brunswick. He served until his death at Bathurst in 1895.