Kirkaldy, born in Clapham, in Greater London, was educated in England, then went to Hawaii in 1903 to work for the United States Department of Agriculture then for the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station.
Kirkaldy, born in Clapham, in Greater London to W. H. Kirkaldy of Wimbledon was educated in England. He later went to Hawaii in 1903 to work for the United States Department of Agriculture then for the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station.