James Kempt was born in Edinburgh c1764. He was the son of Gavin Kempt of Batley Hall, Hampshire. His mother was the daughter of Alexander Walker of Edinburgh. He was gazetted first to the 101st Grenadiers in India in 1783 and then the 113th Regiment of Foot, but both regiments were disbanded. He served as ADC to Abercromby in the Netherlands and in Egypt. In 1803 he was on the staff of Sir David Dundas but then was given command of the 81st. He fought at the battle of Maida, leading the Light Infantry which saw the heaviest fighting.
From 1807 he was back on the staff, this time in North America, but in 1811 he was in Spain as a major-general. He was severely wounded at Badajoz in April 1812, but recovered enough to lead a brigade in the Light Division at Vittoria in June 1813. His command continued in the battles of the Pyrenees, Bidassoa, Nivelle, Orthez and Toulouse. There was then uneventful service in North America once more.
Kempt is best known for his part in the Battle of Waterloo. He was appointed command of the 8th Brigade of Picton’s 5th Division in Wellington’s army. This brigade was in the thick of the fighting at Quatre Bras and sustained 638 casualties. In the battle on the 18th June a further 681 men were lost. When Picton was killed, Kempt took over command of the whole Division. After the Napoleonic Wars he worked in the Colonial Office. For his services his Order of the Bath was upgraded to Knight Grand Cross. He was Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth and GOC Southwest District in Aug 1819. From 1828 to 1830 he was Governor of British North America, and MGO from 1830 to 1840. He was appointed Colonel of the following regiments:
1813 60th Rifles, 8th Battalion. 4 Nov
1818 3rd West India Regiment. 31 Mar
1819 81st Regiment. 12 July
1829 40th Regiment. 8 Jan
1834 2nd Regiment. 23 Dec
1846 1st Royal Regiment. 7 Aug
1854 Died in London. 20 Dec
