Sir William Rann Kennedy, FBA (11 March 1846 – 17 January 1915)[1] was a British jurist and Lord Justice of Appeal and accomplished classical scholar.

[2] Kennedy was sent to study at Eton College rather than the traditional family school of Shrewsbury, largely as his uncle was headmaster there.

After winning the Craven and Bell scholarships and the Powis Medal, he came top in classics in 1868 - the fourth member of his family to do.

Later in 1892 he contested the seat of St Helens, where he narrowly lost to Sir Henry Seton-Karr by just 59 votes.

[2] After his defeat in the St Helen's by-election in 1892, Kennedy was appointed as a High Court judge assigned to the Queen's Bench, receiving the customary knighthood.