Jean Kennedy Smith.

Jean Ann Kennedy Smith Jean Ann Kennedy

Born 20 Feb 1928 Brookline, United States

Died 17 Jun 2020 Manhattan, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 98 yr If Living

7 min read

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Apr 4, 2026

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TL;DR

Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy, served as US Ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998 and helped advance the Northern Ireland peace process. She appeared in the film Lincoln 2012 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. She was the youngest of five sisters in the Kennedy political dynasty.

Identity & family.

KIN · 15

Names, aliases, and relatives of Jean Kennedy Smith — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Jean Ann Kennedy

Native Name Jean Ann Kennedy Smith

Aliases Jean Kennedy, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith

PARENTS: Rose Kennedy Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
SPOUSES: Stephen Smith
CHILDREN: Stephen Edward Smith III. William Kennedy Smith Amanda Smith Kym Smith
SIBLINGS: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. John F. Kennedy Rosemary Kennedy Kathleen Cavendish Eunice Kennedy Shriver Patricia Kennedy Lawford Robert F. Kennedy Ted Kennedy

At a glance.

STATS

Jean Kennedy Smith by the numbers — life, work, and family.

92 Years lived

1 Award

1 Marriage

4 Children

Who was Jean Kennedy Smith?

BIOGRAPHY

Jean Kennedy Smith — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born on February 20, 1928 in Brookline, Massachusetts, Jean Ann Kennedy was the youngest of five sisters among nine siblings in the politically powerful Kennedy family. She attended Manhattanville University, where she roomed with Ethel Skakel and later introduced her to her brother Robert F. Kennedy.

Career

Jean Kennedy Smith appeared in the 2012 film Lincoln and the 1993 documentary Jack: The Last Kennedy Film. Her most significant career was as a diplomat. Appointed by President Bill Clinton, she served as US Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland from June 24, 1993 to September 17, 1998. During her tenure, she advanced the Northern Ireland peace process. She also discovered the Irish pop group The Corrs after attending their first professional gig in Dublin in March 1994.

Personal life

Jean Kennedy Smith married financier Stephen Smith on May 19, 1956. Stephen managed the $500 million Kennedy family fortune. They had four children: Stephen Edward Smith III, born June 29, 1957; William Kennedy Smith, born September 4, 1960; Amanda Mary Smith, born April 30, 1967; and Kym Maria Smith, born November 29, 1972. She also introduced her brother Ted Kennedy to his wife Joan Bennett. Her husband died on August 19, 1990.

Legacy

Jean Kennedy Smith was the last surviving sibling of the Kennedy political dynasty following the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on February 15, 2011. In 1998, she was made an honorary citizen of the Republic of Ireland for her contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process. She is remembered as a diplomat who helped the Northern Ireland peace process and as the last link to the generation of President John F. Kennedy.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Jean Kennedy Smith — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Did you know?

FACTS · 9

Little-known facts about Jean Kennedy Smith — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Jean Kennedy Smith was the youngest of five sisters: Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, and Patricia. She was the last surviving sibling of her generation of Kennedy children.
She is generally credited with discovering the Irish pop act The Corrs during her tenure as US Ambassador to Ireland; she attended their first professional gig in Dublin in March 1994 and later invited them to Boston.
She introduced her brother Robert F. Kennedy to his wife Ethel Skakel, who was her college roommate at Manhattanville University.
Her financier husband Stephen Smith managed the $500 million Kennedy family fortune.
She introduced her brother Ted Kennedy to his wife Joan Bennett.
She served as US Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland from June 24, 1993 to September 17, 1998, appointed by President Bill Clinton.
She was made an honorary citizen of the Republic of Ireland by the President of Ireland in 1998.
With the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009, she became the sole surviving child of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy until her own death on June 17, 2020.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on February 15, 2011.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Jean Kennedy Smith.

When was Jean Kennedy Smith born?

Jean Kennedy Smith was born on February 20, 1928 in Brookline, Massachusetts. She was the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy.
Where was Jean Kennedy Smith born?

She was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA. This is the same town where her older brother John F. Kennedy was born.
When did Jean Kennedy Smith die?

She died on June 17, 2020 in Manhattan, New York City. She was 92 years old at the time of her death.
How old was Jean Kennedy Smith when she died?

Jean Kennedy Smith was 92 years old when she died on June 17, 2020. She was the last surviving sibling of the Kennedy family.
Where did Jean Kennedy Smith die?

She died in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She had lived there after her husband’s death.
What was Jean Kennedy Smith's birth name?

Her birth name was Jean Ann Kennedy. She was later known as Jean Kennedy Smith after marriage.
What was Jean Kennedy Smith's native name?

Her native name is Jean Ann Kennedy Smith. She was also known as Jean Kennedy and Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith.
What did Jean Kennedy Smith do for a living?

She was an actress, known for appearing in Lincoln 2012 and Jack: The Last Kennedy Film 1993. She also served as US Ambassador to Ireland.
What nationality was Jean Kennedy Smith?

She was American by birth and citizenship. She was born in the United States and served as a US diplomat.
What language did Jean Kennedy Smith speak?

Her native language was English. She used it throughout her career in acting and diplomacy.
Who were Jean Kennedy Smith's parents?

Her parents were Rose Kennedy and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Her father was a prominent businessman and ambassador, and her mother was a philanthropist.
Who was Jean Kennedy Smith married to?

She was married to Stephen Smith, a financier who managed the Kennedy family fortune. They were married from May 19, 1956 until his death on August 19, 1990.
Did Jean Kennedy Smith have children?

Yes, she had four children: Stephen Edward Smith III born 1957, William Kennedy Smith born 1960, Amanda Mary Smith born 1967, and Kym Maria Smith born 1972.
Did Jean Kennedy Smith have any siblings?

Yes, she had eight siblings: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., John F. Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, Kathleen Cavendish, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Robert F. Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy.
Where did Jean Kennedy Smith go to school?

She attended Manhattanville University now Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. It was there she met her college roommate Ethel Skakel.
What awards did Jean Kennedy Smith win?

She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on February 15, 2011. It is the highest civilian award in the United States.
How many awards did Jean Kennedy Smith win?

She is known for winning at least one major award: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also made an honorary citizen of Ireland in 1998.
Why was Jean Kennedy Smith called Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith?

She served as the US Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland from 1993 to 1998 under President Bill Clinton. She used the title Ambassador during and after her tenure.
What was Jean Kennedy Smith known for?

She was known for being the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy, her role in the Northern Ireland peace process, and discovering the Irish band The Corrs.
Was Jean Kennedy Smith married?

Yes, she was married to Stephen Smith from May 19, 1956 until his death on August 19, 1990. Stephen managed the Kennedy family’s $500 million fortune.
Who were Jean Kennedy Smith's relatives?

She was aunt to many Kennedy family members, including Maria Shriver, Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She had eight siblings.
What role did Jean Kennedy Smith play in the Northern Ireland peace process?

As US Ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998, she played a major role in helping the Northern Ireland peace process progress, leveraging her family’s political influence.
How did Jean Kennedy Smith discover The Corrs?

During her ambassadorship, she attended The Corrs’ first professional gig in Dublin in March 1994 on invitation from composer Bill Whelan. She was so impressed she invited them to Boston.
Did Jean Kennedy Smith have any siblings who were president?

Yes, her older brother John F. Kennedy served as the 35th President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
What was Jean Kennedy Smith's relationship with Ethel Skakel?

Ethel Skakel was her college roommate at Manhattanville University. Jean later introduced Ethel to her brother Robert F. Kennedy, and they married in 1950.
When did Jean Kennedy Smith serve as US Ambassador?

She served as US Ambassador to Ireland from June 24, 1993 to September 17, 1998, appointed by President Bill Clinton.
What was Jean Kennedy Smith's role in the Kennedy family?

She was the last surviving child of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy after Ted Kennedy’s death in 2009. She managed aspects of the family legacy.
Did Jean Kennedy Smith appear in any films?

Yes, she appeared as an actress in Lincoln 2012, Jack: The Last Kennedy Film 1993, and Australian Story 1996.
Was Jean Kennedy Smith an honorary citizen of Ireland?

Yes, in 1998, just before retiring as US Ambassador, she was made an honorary citizen of the Republic of Ireland by the President of Ireland.
How did Jean Kennedy Smith contribute to the Kennedy legacy?

She was the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy and served as a diplomat, continuing the family’s public service tradition. She also kept the family history alive.

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Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on April 4, 2026

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