Kendrick was born in 1839 in Bath, Maine. He was still living in that city when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a coxswain on the . He volunteered to join the for the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. It was there he showed "courageous devotion to duty". For this action, he was presented the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.