Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy was the famed rebellious daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy.
She was the fourth child born in the family, and was John F. Kennedy’s second sister.
During her short life, Kennedy accomplished a great deal.
And as her great-niece Kathleen Kennedy who is indeed her namesake noted, she also possessed great character.
“Her decisions were informed by her own moral compass, not that of her parents or society.”
However, her life also wasn’t without controversy.
Below are 12 facts about the rebellious Kennedy.
She also had two older brothers, Joseph Kennedy Jr. and John F. Kennedy.
She was also part of what her parents considered the “golden trio” of the family.
The other “golden” siblings included Kick’s two older brothers, Joseph Kennedy and John F. Kennedy.
As author Barbara Leaming told People (viaYahoo!
News), “Like Jack, nothing stopped her.
She was his psychological twin.”
Kennedy was popular at her school, and she was most interested in studying theology and history.
Evidently, it wasn’t exactly a casual environment.
It was located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, an affluent suburb of Paris.
While her parents likely hoped the school would help tame Kennedy’s free spirit, the opposite occurred.
It was here that she fell in love with the country.
Not a bad way to spend your days off from school.
Despite her ability to excel in academics, Kennedy’s rebellious side also flourished at the convent.
She would attend the school until 1937 before returning back to Connecticut.
In 1938, she traveled to England with the rest of her family.
The change in location came about after Joseph Kennedy Sr. became the U.S.
Ambassador to Great Britain with his then-boss President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
She made her debut the same time as her older sister,Rosemary Kennedy.
Her real-life debutante experience even inspired a 2018 novel by Kerri Maher called “The Kennedy Debutante.”
What’s more, Joseph Kennedy’s decision to leave London was also seen as weak.
At this point, his credibility unraveled, and he resigned from the ambassador position in 1940.
His stance on the Nazi invasion is widely seen as the beginning of the end of his political career.
This also embarrassed his daughter, who was still enjoying popularity overseas.
The U.S. didn’t officially enter World War II until late 1941 after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
Her love of the country as well as her admiration of the British people stuck with Kathleen.
Yet her personality likely propelled her to pave her own path.
After leaving New York’s Finch College, she briefly attended Florida Commercial College before dropping out in 1941.
At this time, she decided to pursue writing and journalism.
She had also been a former research assistant for the column before eventually writing the series herself.
Aside from the column, Kathleen also penned movie and performing arts reviews.
She married against her parents' wishes
Still, Kathleen Kennedy’s journalistic pursuits were short-lived.
The dating phase was short, as Kathleen and Cavendish had long wished to be married.
From the outside, it would seem that their partnership was a perfect match.
While Kathleen was reportedly far more outgoing and free-spirited than Cavendish, the couple got along well.
What’s more, he was the current Marquess of Hartington and the future Duke of Devonshire.
However, her parents were against their daughter marrying someone who was not Catholic.
WhenBilly Cavendish and Kathleen Kennedy wedin May 1944, Rose and Joseph Kennedy refused to attend the wedding.
Kathleen’s older brother Joseph Kennedy, Jr. was her only family member in attendance.
Members of the Cavendish family and social acquaintances also attended the couple’s ceremony.
He was tragically killed in September 1944, which was just four months after their wedding.
Kathleen’s older brother Joseph Kennedy Jr. was also killed in a plane explosion not even a month prior.
At this time, she decided to stay in England and be with the Cavendishes.
After the war ended, Kathleen still worked with the Cavendish family and maintained her title of Lady Hartington.
For a couple of years, she stayed busy in London.
It was at a related event that she met a new love interest.
The pair soon fell in love, but under a veil of scandal.
Wentworth-Fitzwilliam reportedly wanted to marry Kathleen as soon as his divorce was finalized.
The recommendation was disregarded, and the plane crashed shortly after departure, killing everyone on board.
Kathleen was only 28 years old.
According to theNational Park Service, the Cavendish family also reportedly gave Kathleen a Catholic funeral.
Kathleen’s tombstone reads, “Joy she gave, Joy she has found.”
