Edward Kenway

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Edward Kenway (unknown - 1735) was a Welsh privateer and occasional pirate, and a member of the Assassin Order. He was the father of Haytham Kenway, who would later be converted to the Templar Order by Edward's former employee Reginald Birch. Accompanying this, Edward was also the grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton and an ancestor of Desmond Miles.

Biography

Edward was described as a charming and charismatic man of British descent who grew up in poverty, which led to him becoming quite reckless and selfish. Upon adulthood, his only real career option was to join the British navy, and once accepted, he was stationed in the Caribbean. However, the lure of gold, glory and fame eventually seduced him into a life of piracy. It was as a pirate that Edward first encountered the Assassin Order, and became enamored with their struggle.

Edward was married at some point to Caroline Scott, with whom he had a daughter, Jenny. Under unknown circumstances, his marriage eventually ended and he wed his second wife, Tessa Stephenson-Oakley, some time afterwards.

Through Tessa's family connections, she had assisted him in purchasing a manor in Queen Anne's Square in London, and the two had a son, Haytham, in 1725. Edward trained Haytham to become an Assassin from an early age, through things such as swordsmanship tutelage, despite Haytham barely being six years old at the time. Edward would also encourage his son to think for himself, and dispute others' opinions.

On December 4, 1733, on Haytham's eighth birthday, the Kenway family was walking home from a trip to White's Chocolate House on Chesterfield Street, when the group was attacked by a mugger. Reginald Birch, an associate of Edward's who was also with them, threatened to kill the man, whose attempt to rob Tessa of her necklace had failed. However, he was dissuaded by Edward, who was infuriated at Reginald's harsh vigilantism. When the family returned home that night, Edward asked his son whether he thought that the thief should have been allowed to go free. Haytham replied that he had initially held feelings to enact revenge, but would have offered the man clemency, to which Edward presented him with a steel short sword.

During another one of Reginald Birch's visits, the two men engaged in a loud argument some time after Birch had Haytham unknowingly reveal the location of Edward's most prized and hidden possessions. This argument ended with Birch storming out of the office.

On 3 December 1735, the Kenway household was infiltrated by masked men, who kidnapped his daughter, Jenny Kenway, and killed several of the servants. During this time, they cornered Edward in the games room, and in a prolonged fight, they killed him.

Gallery

• Edward aboard the Jackdaw as a whale breaches the water ahead.
  Edward aboard the Jackdaw as a whale breaches the water ahead.
• 
  Edward swimming underwater.
• 
  Edward holding his two cutlasses.
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  Edward gazing over at some Mayan ruins.
• Edward in combat, wielding dual pistols.
  Edward in combat, wielding dual pistols.
• Edward boarding an enemy vessel.
  Edward boarding an enemy vessel.
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  Edward alongside Blackbeard.
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  Edward assassinating a British soldier.
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  Edward walking from amongst the water, with a slain British soldier on the sand.

Trivia

• At some point in Haytham's childhood, Edward took him to see The Beggar's Opera at the Theatre Royal in London.
• During his time as a privateer, Edward has been shown to have had at least four flintlock pistols and two swords on him at one given time.
• "Edward" means "rich guard", derived from the Old English elements ead "rich, blessed" and weard "guard."
• "Kenway" is an Old English name meaning "brave royal fighter."
• Unlike many known Assassins, Edward did not wear a beaked hood.
• Edward has been shown to bear multiple facial scars: one through his right eyebrow and the corner of his eye, another across the bridge of his nose, and a third from his right ear through his cheek.
  • However, unlike other Assassins such as Desmond Miles, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Ezio Auditore Da Firenze and Aveline de Grandpré, Edward did not possess a scar across his lip, much like his son, Haytham, and his grandson, Ratonhnhaké:ton, who too did not possess scars on their lips.