Robert P. Kennedy was born in Bellefontaine, January 23, 1840.  Entered the Union army in 1861, came out Brevet Brig.-General in 1865; studied and practiced the law; was Collector of Internal Revenue 1878 to 1883; elected to the 50th Congress, re-elected to the 51st Congress; was elected Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with J. B. Foraker in 1885 and resigned in 1887.  In the stormy session of 1886, as President of the Senate , his rulings in regard to the seating of the Hamilton county Democratic Senators, their election being contested, gave him prominence.