British colonial contemporary of Benjamin Franklin in the investigation of electricity and inventor of an electrical air thermometer (c. 1755). He also sought to find ways in which to protect buildings from lightning.

Brought to North America at the age of three, Kinnersley studied with his father, a Baptist minister, and was ordained (1743) but never had a congregation. Kinnersley taught English and oratory and was chief master at the College of Philadelphia (1753–73), from which he received his M.A. degree (1757).