Kelly was born in 1855 at Carluke, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The couple emigrated in 1875 on the Aldergrove to New Zealand, landing in Port Chalmers in Otago.
[4] He was in favour of land nationalisation and progressive taxes.
[4] From 1892 to 1894, Kelly served as president of the federated New Zealand Workers' Union.
[1] This article about a New Zealand Liberal Party politician is a stub.