John Kennedy (1819–1884) was a Scottish preacher and a prominent minister of the Free Church of Scotland, renowned for his powerful preaching and leadership among Highland evangelicals during the 19th century. Born on August 15, 1819, at Killearnan Manse in Ross-shire, he was the fourth son of Rev. John Kennedy, a minister, and Jessie Mackenzie. Educated at the parish school of Killearnan and later at King’s College, Aberdeen, where he earned an MA in 1840, Kennedy began theological studies at Aberdeen University and New College, Edinburgh. His father’s death in 1841 marked a turning point, leading to his conversion that year and his alignment with the Free Church after the 1843 Disruption. Ordained in 1844, he served as minister of Dingwall Free Church for 40 years until his death, marrying Mary Mackenzie in 1848, with whom he had several children. Kennedy’s preaching career established him as a leading figure in the Highlands, often called “the Spurgeon of the Highlands” for his ability to draw crowds of up to 10,000 with sermons blending theological depth and vivid imagery. Based in Dingwall, he declined calls to larger cities, focusing instead on rural ministry and preaching across Scotland, notably during the 1859–1860 revival. His writings, including The Days of the Fathers in Ross-shire (1861) and The Apostle of the North (1866), a biography of John Macdonald, preserved Highland evangelical heritage, while his opposition to church union, disestablishment, and modern worship innovations reflected his conservative stance. Awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by Aberdeen University in 1873, Kennedy died on April 28, 1884, in Bridge of Allan, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose influence shaped a distinct Highland Presbyterian culture, mourned widely at his burial in Dingwall.