Edmund Pendleton Kennedy (22 February 1785 – 28 March 1844)[1] was an officer in the United States Navy and became the first commander-in-chief of the East India Squadron.

At the Battle of Tripoli Harbor in 1804, in the First Barbary War, Kennedy was gunner's mate on board and was distinguished by his valor and intrepid ardor in the performance of duty.

Transferred to the frigate Constellation at Norfolk ready for sea under Captain Charles Gordon.

Indeed, stories about the riches of Far East created the national myth about the vast potential of the China market.

In an effort of turn the myth into reality, in 1835 President Andrew Jackson sent diplomatist Edmund Roberts in the Peacock commanded by lieutenant C. K. Stribling, accompanied by the U. S. Schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant Commanding A. S. Campbell, both under the command of Commodore Kennedy,[5] to Chochin-China, thus established the East India Squadron.