James Kempt

Born in Edinburgh around 1765, he was the son of Gavin Kempt of Batley Hall, Hampshire.{{cite book |last=Dalton |first=Charles |year=1904 |title=The Waterloo roll call. With biographical notes and anecdotes |location=London |publisher= Eyre and Spottiswoode |url=https://archive.org/details/waterloorollcall00daltuoft|page=[https://archive.org/details/waterloorollcall00daltuoft/page/18 18]}}

Kempt was gazetted to the 101st Grenadiers in India in 1783, but on its disbandment two years later was placed on half-pay. It is said that he took a clerkship in Greenwoods, the army agents (afterwards Cox & Co.). He attracted the notice of the Duke of York, through whom he obtained a captaincy (very soon followed by a majority) in the newly raised 113th Foot. But it was not long before his regiment experienced the fate of the old 101st; this time however Kempt was retained on full pay in the recruiting service.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 1799 Kempt accompanied Sir Ralph Abercromby to the Netherlands, and later to Egypt as an aide-de-camp. After Abercromby's death, Kempt remained on his successor's staff until the end of the campaign in Egypt. In April 1803 he joined the staff of Sir David Dundas, but next month returned to regimental duty, and a little later received a lieutenant colonelcy in the 81st Foot. With his new regiment he went, under Craig, to the Mediterranean theatre of operations, and at the Battle of Maida on 4 July 1806, he led the light infantry brigade which bore the heaviest share of the battle.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

Employed from 1807 to 1811 on the staff in North America, Brevet-Colonel Kempt at the end of 1811 joined Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington's army in Spain with the local rank of major general, which was, on 1 January 1812, made substantive. As one of Thomas Picton's brigadiers, Kempt took part in the great assault on Badajoz and was severely wounded.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} On rejoining for duty, he was posted to the command of a brigade of the Light Division (43rd Regiment of Foot, 95th Rifles, and 3rd Portuguese Light Infantry) in time to fight at the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813.Glover, p 383 He also led his brigade at the Battle of the Pyrenees at the end of July, and at the Battle of the Bidassoa, where his troops stormed French defenses near Mont La Rhune on 7 October.Glover, p 283 While still commanding his brigade at the Battle of Nivelle on 10 November, he was again wounded.Glover, p 386 In 1814, he led his brigade at the battles of Orthez and Toulouse.

After the first abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte, Kempt was transferred once again to North America, where the Anglo-American War of 1812 was still being fought. He commanded a brigade which was intended to attack the vital American post of Sackets Harbor, New York, but logistical problems prevented the attack being made before winter brought an end to campaigning in Canada. News of peace between Britain and America reached Canada early in 1815, and Kempt returned to Europe.

Kempt was appointed to lead the 8th British Brigade in the army Wellington assembled in Belgium to invade France. The 8th Brigade consisted of the 1/28th, 1/32nd, 2/79th Highland and 1/95th Rifles in Sir Thomas Picton's 5th Division. At the Battle of Quatre Bras, Kempt's brigade was involved in heavy fighting and suffered 638 killed and wounded.Smith, pp 537–538 At the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June, his brigade was again in the thick of combat and lost 681 killed and wounded.Smith, p 543 On Picton's death, Kempt succeeded to the command of the division. Early in 1815 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and in July for his services at Waterloo, a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

The Dutch King made him a Knight in the Military Order of William. He became Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth and General Officer Commanding South-West District in August 1819.{{London Gazette|issue=17507|page=1475|date=17 August 1819}}

From 1828 to 1830 he was Governor of British North America, and at a critical time displayed firmness and moderation. He was afterwards Master-General of the Ordnance.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} At the time of his death at his home in South Audley Street, London in 1854{{cite news |title=Death of Sir James Kempt |work=Morning Advertiser |date=22 December 1854 |access-date=31 May 2016 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001427/18541222/019/0004| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} he had for some years been a full general and left a personal fortune of some £120,000.

;Geographic locations

• {{flagicon|Nova Scotia}} Nova Scotia: Kemptville, Kempt Shore, Kempt, Kempt Road, HALIFAX; Kempt Street, Lunenburg
• {{flagicon|Ontario}} Ontario: Kemptville
• Kempt Tower, Jersey

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite DCB |last=Burroughs |first=Peter |title=Kempt, Sir James |volume=8 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/kempt_james_8E.html}}
• Glover, Michael. The Peninsular War 1807–1814. London: Penguin, 2001. {{ISBN|0-14-139041-7}}
• Smith, Digby. The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill, 1998. {{ISBN|1-85367-276-9}}
• {{EB1911|wstitle=Kempt, Sir James|volume=15|pages=725–726}}

• {{Cite encyclopedia |last=Evans |first=David |title=Sir James Kempt |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |date=16 December 2013 |publisher=Historica Canada |edition=online |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-james-kempt}}
• Archives of Sir James Kempt [https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=98424&lang=eng (James Kempt fonds, R2330)] are held at Library and Archives Canada. The description is bilingual (English and French)

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{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the 8th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot | years=1813–1816}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the 3rd West India Regiment | years=1818–1819}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the 81st Regiment of Foot | years=1819–1829}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the 40th Regiment of Foot | years=1829–1834}}

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{{Succession box|title=Master-General of the Ordnance | before=The Viscount Beresford | after=Sir George Murray | years=1830–1834}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot | years=1834–1846}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Colonel of the 1st, or The Royal Regiment of Foot | years=1846–1854}}

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{{Succession box|title=Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia | before=The Earl of Dalhousie | after=Thomas N. Jeffrey
(acting) | years=1820–1828}}

{{Succession box|title=Governor General of British North America | before=The Earl of Dalhousie | after=The Lord Aylmer | years=1828–1830}}

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