mentioned should be added the fine historical novel Rajongok (The Fanatics) (Pest, 1858–1859), and Collected Speeches (Hung.) (Pest, 1889).
See L. Nogrady, Baron Sigismund Kemény’s Life and Writings (Hung.) (Budapest, 1902); G. Beksics, Sigismund Kemény, the Revolution and the Composition (Hung.) (Budapest, 1888). (R. N. B.)
KEMP, WILLIAM (fl. 1600), English actor and dancer. He
probably began his career as a member of the earl of Leicester’s
company, but his name first appears after the death of Leicester
in a list of players authorized by an order of the privy council
in 1593 to play 7 m. out of London. Ferdinand Stanley,
Lord Strange, was the patron of the company of which Kemp
was the leading member until 1598, and in 1594 was summoned
with Burbage and Shakespeare to act before the queen at Greenwich.
He was the successor, both in parts and reputation, of
Richard Tarlton. But it was as a dancer of jigs that he won his
greatest popularity, one or two actors dancing and singing with
him, and the words doubtless often being improvised. Examples
of the music may be seen in the MS. collection of John Dowland
now in the Cambridge University library. At the same time
Kemp was given parts like Dogberry, and Peter in Romeo and
Juliet; indeed his name appears by accident in place of those of
the characters in early copies. Kemp seems to have exhibited
his dancing on the Continent, but in 1602 he was a member of the
earl of Worcester’s players, and Philip Henslowe’s diary shows
several payments made to him in that year.
KEMPE, JOHN (c. 1380–1454), English cardinal, archbishop
of Canterbury, and chancellor, was son of Thomas Kempe, a
gentleman of Ollantigh, in the parish of Wye near Ashford, Kent.
He was born about 1380 and educated at Merton College, Oxford.
He practised as an ecclesiastical lawyer, was an assessor at the
trial of Oldcastle, and in 1415 was made dean of the Court of
Arches. Then he passed into the royal service, and being employed
in the administration of Normandy was eventually made
chancellor of the duchy. Early in 1419 he was elected bishop
of Rochester, and was consecrated at Rouen on the 3rd of
December. In February 1421 he was translated to Chichester,
and in November following to London. During the minority
of Henry VI. Kempe had a prominent position in the English
council as a supporter of Henry Beaufort, whom he succeeded
as chancellor in March 1426. In this same year he was promoted
to the archbishopric of York. Kempe held office as chancellor
for six years; his main task in government was to keep Humphrey
of Gloucester in check. His resignation on the 28th of February
1432 was a concession to Gloucester. He still enjoyed Beaufort’s
favour, and retaining his place in the council was employed
on important missions, especially at the congress of Arras in
1435, and the conference at Calais in 1438. In December 1439
he was created cardinal, and during the next few years took less
share in politics. He supported Suffolk over the king’s marriage
with Margaret of Anjou; but afterwards there arose some difference
between them, due in part to a dispute about the nomination
of the cardinal’s nephew, Thomas Kempe, to the bishopric of
London. At the time of Suffolk’s fall in January 1450 Kempe
once more became chancellor. His appointment may have been
due to the fact that he was not committed entirely to either party.
In spite of his age and infirmity he showed some vigour in dealing
with Cade’s rebellion, and by his official experience and skill did
what he could for four years to sustain the king’s authority. He
was rewarded by his translation to Canterbury in July 1452,
when Pope Nicholas added as a special honour the title of
cardinal-bishop of Santa Rufina. As Richard of York gained
influence, Kempe became unpopular; men called him “the
cursed cardinal,” and his fall seemed imminent when he died
suddenly on the 22nd of March 1454. He was buried at Canterbury,
in the choir. Kempe was a politician first, and hardly at
all a bishop; and he was accused with some justice of neglecting
his dioceses, especially at York. Still he was a capable official,
and a faithful servant to Henry VI., who called him “one of the
wisest lords of the land” (Paston Letters, i. 315). He founded
a college at his native place at Wye, which was suppressed at the
Reformation.
For contemporary authorities see under Henry VI. See also J. Raine’s Historians of the Church of York, vol. ii.; W. Dugdale’s Monasticon, iii. 254, vi. 1430–1432; and W. F. Hook’s Lives of Archbishops of Canterbury, v. 188–267. (C. L. K.)
KEMPEN, a town in the Prussian Rhine Province, 40 m.
N. of Cologne by the railway to Zevenaar. Pop. (1900), 6319.
It has a monument to Thomas à Kempis, who was born there.
The industries are considerable, and include silk-weaving, glass-making
and the manufacture of electrical plant. Kempen
belonged in the middle ages to the archbishopric of Cologne and
received civic rights in 1294. It is memorable as the scene of a
victory gained, on the 17th of January 1642, by the French and
Hessians over the Imperialists.
See Terwelp, Die Stadt Kempen (Kempen, 1894), and Niessen, Heimatkunde des Kreises Kempen (Crefeld, 1895).
KEMPENFELT, RICHARD (1718–1782), British rear-admiral, was born at Westminster in 1718. His father, a Swede, is said to have been in the service of James II., and subsequently to have entered the British army. Richard Kempenfelt went into the navy, and saw his first service in the West Indies, taking part in the capture of Portobello. In 1746 he returned to England, and from that date to 1780, when he was made rear-admiral, saw active service in the East Indies with Sir George Pocock and in various quarters of the world. In 1781 he gained, with a vastly inferior force, a brilliant victory, fifty leagues south-west of Ushant, over the French fleet under De Guichen, capturing twenty prizes. In 1782 he hoisted his flag on the “Royal George,” which formed part of the fleet under Lord Howe. In August this fleet was ordered to refit at top speed at Portsmouth, and proceed to the relief of Gibraltar. A leak having been located below the waterline of the “Royal George,” the vessel was careened to allow of the defect being repaired. According to the version of the disaster favoured by the Admiralty, she was overturned by a breeze. But the general opinion of the navy was that the shifting of her weights was more than the old and rotten timbers of the “Royal George” could stand. A large piece of her bottom fell out, and she went down at once. It is estimated that not fewer than 800 persons went down with her, for besides the crew there were a large number of tradesmen, women and children on board. Kempenfelt, who was in his cabin, perished with the rest. Cowper’s poem, the “Loss of the Royal George,” commemorates this disaster. Kempenfelt effected radical alterations and improvements in the signalling system then existing in the British navy. A painting of the loss of the “Royal George” is in the Royal United Service Institution, London.
See Charnock’s Biog. Nav., vi. 246, and Ralfe’s Naval Biographies, i. 215.
KEMPT, SIR JAMES (1764–1854), British soldier, was gazetted to the 101st Foot 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 Greenwood’s, 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. In 1799 he accompanied Sir Ralph Abercromby to Holland, 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 Maida the light brigade led by him bore the heaviest share of the battle. Employed from 1807 to 1811 on the staff in North America, Brevet-Colonel Kempt at the end of 1811 joined Wellington’s army in Spain with the local rank of major-general, which was, on the 1st of January 1812, made substantive. As one of Picton’s brigadiers, Kempt took part in the great assault on Badajoz and was severely wounded. On rejoining for duty, he was posted to the command of a brigade of the Light Division (43rd, 52nd and 95th Rifles),
