Frederic Festus Kelly (died 3 June 1883)[1] was a high official in the British Post Office.
This directory had been started in 1799 by two inspectors of letter-carriers named Sparke and Ferguson, with the approval of the then joint Postmasters General, Lords Auckland and Gower.
The directory was in effect a private enterprise, although produced with the patronage of the Post Office and using labour of government-employed letter carriers as gatherers of data and as a sales force, something that Critchett's private-sector competitors had petitioned against in vain.
[13] In 1845–1847, Kelly was sharply criticised by some members of Parliament, particularly Thomas Duncombe, and accused of using his office for his private benefit and for requiring letter-carriers to assist in gathering information for the directory.
However, in the Journal of the Galway Archeological and Historical Society, E. Festus Kelly traces the family back to the original Ó Ceallaigh (O'Kelly).
[27] He was the son of Festus Kelly (c. 1759 – 7 October 1831[28][29]) from County Galway in the west of Ireland, formerly a captain in the 96th Regiment of Foot.
[34] His second son was the barrister and politician John Richards Kelly,[35] who inherited his share and interests in the copyright of the Post Office Directory.
Hector Norton, vicar of Great Bentley, on 21 May 1867;[36] his second daughter Fanny married Frederick William Headland on 10 August 1865.