A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kempster, Ralph Richard Tomkin
KEMPSTER. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 14; h-p., 28.)
Ralph Richard Tomkin Kempster entered the Navy, 15 Jan. 1805, as a Volunteer, on board the Princess floating-battery, Capt. Sam. Martin Colquitt, lying in the River Mersey. Quitting the latter vessel in the following July, he served, during the remainder of the war, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, chiefly on the Home, West India, and Mediterranean’ stations, in the Boadicea 38, Capts. John Maitland and John Hatley, Satellite sloop, Capts. Robt. Evans and Hon. Willoughby Bertie, Dannemark 74, Capt. Jas. Bissett, Rodney 74, Capt. Edw. Durnford King, and Prince 98, bearing the flag of Sir Rich. Hussey Bickerton. In April, 1815 (after he had been also borne, as a Supernumerary for passage, on the books of the Snake, Tigre, and Tanais, Capts. Joseph Gape, John Halliday, and Joseph James, he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Onyx 10, Capts. Smith Cobb and Chas. Strangways, then at Jamaica. On his return home for the purpose of being paid off in July, 1816, he found a commission awaiting him dated 1 Feb. 1815. His next and last appointment was, 27 Feb. 1823, to the Clio sloop, commanded by the officer last mentioned, with whom he was for three years employed in the North Sea.