Background
He was born in Waterford, the son of James Kent and Mary Carigan.
He was born in Waterford, the son of James Kent and Mary Carigan.
Kent studied law with Hugh William Hoyles and was called to the bar in 1864.
He represented Saint John"s East in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1873 to 1886. He entered practice with Joseph Ignatius Little in Saint John"son He was first elected to the assembly as a supporter of Charles James Fox Bennett.
"s law firm represented the Newfoundland Railway Company.
He was speaker for the Newfoundland assembly from 1883 until 1885, when resigned as speaker after a Conservative-Liberal coalition broke up. He left politics in 1886. also served as president of the Benevolent Irish Society from 1883 to 1891 and of the Law Society of Newfoundland from 1888 to 1893.
He died in Saint John"s in 1893.
In 1884 and 1885, he defended 19 Catholics charged with murder following riots involving Orange and Catholic supporters in Harbour Grace.