Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kelly-william-3937

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Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Kelly, William [includes an 1880 photograph]

Teacher, theologian, scientist, polymath; born Ireland, 21 October 1823; died Dublin, Ireland, 30 January 1909, aged 85.

William Kelly studied for the diocesan priesthood at Maynooth, but left without completing the course because he had written a poem in sympathy for the 'Young Ireland' movement, and entered the Jesuits, 24 April 1850, at the age of 26. There is no record of his work in Ireland before he arrived in Australia in 1865 where he taught matriculation students and seminarians at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne.

While in Melbourne he produced at least two dramas that were published. The first was 'The Young Queen: or, will she tell?: a Christian drama in three acts', composed for the pupils of the 'Convent School of Our Lady of Mercy, Perth, Western Australia', published in 1871. The second was 'Marie Antoinette: a drama in three acts', 1875. The first was described by Kelly as embodying 'some of the principal agencies made use of by Divine Providence for the conversion of the Pagan world', while the second was written entirely in rhyming pentameters, with songs and original music.

He moved to Sydney and St Kilda House in 1879, teaching the boys physics, chemistry and astronomy until 1889. He also gave lectures in logic and metaphysics at St John's College within the University of Sydney for an annual fee of £100, and many public lectures on the scriptures and Catholic dogma. He was in demand for occasional sermons at the opening of Churches and on solemn festivals. He was also a poet, linguist, controversialist and missioner, remaining in Australia for 24 years. He returned to Ireland in July 1889 to become a professor of scripture, Hebrew and Church history at the Jesuit theologate, Milltown Park.

Kelly was one of the most gifted Jesuits ever to have worked in Australia. Only superlatives are used to describe his gifts, 'a veritable polymath, poet, scientist, linguist, scripture scholar, controversialist and preacher'. He was adept in science, mathematics, history, the classics, Arabic, Syriac, and Sanskrit. As an astronomer, he was highly esteemed by the Royal Astronomical Society. He had worked with them in observing the Transit of Venus that took place in 1882.

Kelly was recognised for his wit, good-humour and modesty. He completely supported the traditional Jesuit emphasis on a classical education, mathematics and astronomy.

His students appear to have reacted to him with awe. He was loved and admired at St Patrick's College, where he taught all nine matriculation subjects, to which he added chemistry and physics. He particularly enjoyed preparing academic vignettes with the students for speech day entertainment. He was equally at home with music, drama, or recitations in different languages and debates. One former student believed him to be a better lecturer than teacher, but he was above all a kind and lovable person, 'most affable and amiable, and intimately known by his pupils'. He was a good friend to his students, sharing 'the encyclopaedic repository of his gigantic intellect.'

As with many Jesuits, Kelly's contribution to Australian education was not restricted to the classroom. He entered every kind of religious controversy, not least the religious education debate in Victoria in the 1870s. His farewell, amid much ceremony, from Victoria was an emotional affair; his departure considered a tragedy for the Church in that Colony. A similar ceremony was held by the Catholic community of Sydney on his departure to Ireland, at which he was praised for his eloquence, devotion and unsurpassable kindness of heart, as priest, scholar and gentleman. His equal was rarely seen again among the Jesuits in Australia.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)