Background
He was born in London about 1785, the only son of John Kempe, bullion-porter in the Royal Mint, and his wife Anne, youngest daughter of James Arrow of Westminster, who died in 1835.
He was born in London about 1785, the only son of John Kempe, bullion-porter in the Royal Mint, and his wife Anne, youngest daughter of James Arrow of Westminster, who died in 1835.
He was educated by two French refugees, but was not trained for any specific employment.
Foreign about five years Kempe held a commission in the Tower Hamlets militia, but resigned his post in 1811, and lived for a time at Chepstow and Swansea. In the summer of 1813 he moved to the neighbourhood of Holwood Hill in the parish of Keston in Kent. Later on Kempe pursued investigations into the ancient remains at Keston with Thomas Crofton Croker.
Foreign a short time Kempe held an appointment at the Royal 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 and calendaring, but his health broke down. He died at Stamford Villas, Fulham Road, London, 21 August 1846, and was buried in Fulham churchyard 27 August.