A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kempe, John
KEMPE. (Lieut., 1828. f-p., 21; h-p., 6.)
John Kempe is grand-nephew of the late Admiral Kempe.
This officer entered the Navy, 25 Deo, 1820, as Pst.-cl. Vol., on board the Dover 28, Capts. Arthur Batt Bingham and Sam. Chambers, on the Leith station. Prior to his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 13 Nov. 1828, he was further employed, as Midshipman and Mate, at home and in South America, in the Martial 12, Lieut.-Commander M‘Kirdy, Blonde 42, Capt. Lord Byron (under whom he escorted from this country the remains of the late King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands), and Britannia 120, and Ganges 84, flagships of Sir Jas. Saumarez and Sir Robt. Waller Otway. He served during the next two years, still in South America, on board the Beagle surveying-vessel, Capt. Robt. FitzRoy; and, from 1 Jan. 1833 until the summer of 1843, he had charge of a station in the Coast Guard. He has since been on half-pay.
He married, 23 May, 1831, Susannah Rundle, daughter of J. Prynne, Esq., of H.M. Customs, Fowey, by whom he has issue three children.