Born in 1865, Kent was arrested at his home in Castlelyons, Co. Cork following a raid by the Royal Irish Constabulary on 22 April 1916, during which his brother Richard was fatally wounded. It had been his intention to travel to Dublin to participate in the Rising, but when the mobilisation order for the Irish Volunteers was cancelled on Easter Sunday he assumed that the Rising had been postponed, leading him to stay at home.
He was executed at Cork Detention Barracks on 9 May 1916 following a court martial. In 1966 the railway station in Cork was renamed Kent Station in his honour.
Rugadh Ceannt i 1865, gabhadh é ag a theach i gCaisleán Ó Liatháin, Co. Chorcaí i ndiaidh ruathair a thug Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann an 22 Aibreán 1916, in eachtra inar maraíodh a dheartháir Richard. Bhí sé i gceist aige dul go Baile Átha Cliath le bheith rannpháirteach san Éirí Amach, ach nuair a cuireadh an t-ordú slógaidh d’Óglaigh na hÉireann ar ceal ar Domhnach Cásca ghlac sé leis go raibh an tÉirí Amach curtha ar athlá, agus d’fhan sé sa bhaile.
Cuireadh chun báis é ag Dún Coimeádta Chorcaí an 9 Bealtaine 1916 tar éis cúirt mhíleata. I 1966 athainmníodh an stáisiún iarnróid i gCorcaigh ina dhiaidh.