 Kelly was first apprenticed as a seaman in 1804 and sailed in vessels engaged in the sealing and sandalwood trades as well as making a voyage to India.In 1812 he was chief officer of the full-rigged ship "Campbell Macquarie" on a sealing voyage when the ship was wrecked on Macquarie Island.He became the first Australian-born master mariner with voyages in the sealing industry and general trade between Hobart and Sydney.