Alfred John Kempe | |
|---|---|
 Alfred John Kempe: mezzotint byJohn Barak Swaine, afterWilliam Patten | |
| Born | c.1784 London |
| Died | (1846-08-21)21 August 1846 London |
| Occupation | antiquary |
| Employer(s) | Tower Hamlets militia (until 1811),Royal Mint,Gentleman's Magazine |
| Relatives | Anna Eliza Bray (sister),Charles Alfred Stothard (brother-in-law) |
Alfred John Kempe (c.1784 – 21 August 1846) was an English antiquary.
Kempe was born in London, and baptised at the church ofSt Mary, Newington on 16 July 1784.[1] He was the only son of John Kempe, bullion-porter in theRoyal Mint, and his wife Anne, youngest daughter of James Arrow ofWestminster, who died in 1835. The novelistAnna Eliza Bray was his sister. He was educated by two French refugees, but was not trained for any specific employment.[2]
For about five years Kempe held a commission in theTower Hamlets militia, but resigned his post in 1811, and lived for a time atChepstow andSwansea. In the summer of 1813 he moved to the neighbourhood ofHolwood Hill in the parish ofKeston inKent.Charles Alfred Stothard, who married his sister, interested him in antiquities and they spent much time exploring the district. Later on Kempe pursued investigations into the ancient remains at Keston withThomas Crofton Croker.[2] Following Stothard's death in 1821, Kempe helped his sister bring her husband'sMonumental Effigies of Great Britain to completion, writing most of the additional text.[3]
For a short time Kempe held an appointment at theRoyal Mint, but lost it due to staff cuts. From about 1840 to 1845 employment was found for him at the state paper office, working on transcribing andcalendaring, but his health broke down. He died at Stamford Villas,Fulham Road, London, on 21 August 1846 and was buried in Fulham churchyard on 27 August.[2]
Kempe was electedFellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1828. He contributed toArchaeologia from 1816, and exhibited curiosities at its meetings. From its members he formed the "Society of Noviomagus", which took its name from the Roman city supposed to have been built on Holwood Hill. For many years he was on the staff of theGentleman's Magazine, and copies of his articles were printed separately between 1830 and 1832. His paper onTavistock Abbey was later incorporated into his sister'sBorders of the Tamar and the Tavy.[2]
Kempe was the author of:[2]
On 3 October 1808 he married atLeyton, Essex, Mary, daughter of J. Prior, a captain in the merchant service, who bore him eleven children.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Courtney, William Prideaux (1892). "Kempe, Alfred John". InLee, Sidney (ed.).Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 30. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
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